John Pak etched his name in the Club Car Championship record books Thursday with a blistering 11-under 61 at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, setting a new tournament standard and seizing the first-round lead in Savannah, Georgia. The Florida State alum's career-low round eclipsed Julián Etulian's previous mark of 62 set in 2020, establishing Pak as the player to beat at the Korn Ferry Tour's annual stop on the Marshwood course.
"Everything just came together today," said Pak, who recorded his first 18-hole lead in 44 Korn Ferry Tour starts. The New Jersey native's precision was surgical, hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation while needing just 25 putts. "I've been working hard on my putting, and it showed with how many looks I converted." The 27-year-old's performance bested his previous career low by two strokes and marked a strong rebound after finishing 152nd in last year's FedExCup Fall standings, a disappointing result that left him needing to requalify for the Korn Ferry Tour through Q-School.
Pak's round featured an astonishing stretch of six consecutive birdies from holes 4 through 9, followed by another four in five holes on the back nine. His only blemish came with a bogey at the par-4 12th, which he immediately erased with back-to-back birdies. The performance showcased the form that made him one of college golf's most decorated players during his time at Florida State, where he earned the 2021 Haskins Award as the nation's top collegiate golfer.
Hot on Pak's heels is PGA TOUR University standout Ian Gilligan, who carded a 10-under 62 in his professional debut. The 21-year-old Long Beach State transfer made an immediate impact at Florida State before turning pro, and his opening performance suggests he's ready to challenge for early success. "To start like this means everything," said Gilligan, the 2025 Florida State graduate. "I just tried to stay patient and let the birdies come." The rookie's back-nine charge featured seven birdies, showcasing the form that earned him fourth in his graduating class and a direct path to Korn Ferry Tour membership.
Gilligan's transition to professional golf couldn't have started better, as he matched the previous tournament record while demonstrating composure beyond his years. His round included a stretch of five straight birdies from holes 12 through 16, taking advantage of the course's more scoreable back nine. The performance puts him in prime position to challenge for one of the 30 PGA TOUR cards available through the Korn Ferry Tour regular season.
A trio of players sit three shots off the pace at 8-under, including Kevin Velo, who notched his first top-five opening round position since returning to the Korn Ferry Tour after a brief PGA TOUR stint in 2024. "It's nice to see the work paying off," said Velo, a 2024 tour graduate who has been rebuilding his game under new coach Mark Blackburn. He's joined by Hayden Springer in the tie for third, the same player who shot 59 in Q-School last December. Five others lurk at 7-under including former U.S. Junior Amateur champion Noah Goodwin, who is looking to regain the form that made him one of golf's top junior prospects.
Pak's record-setting round comes at a familiar venue where he finished third in 2024, his only prior made cut in two appearances. The eight-time college winner and 2021 PGA TOUR University champion has shown flashes of brilliance since turning professional, including his 2024 Compliance Solutions Championship victory that earned him PGA TOUR status. His game appears perfectly suited for The Landings' tree-lined fairways and Bermuda grass greens, where his elite iron play and improved putting stroke have combined for spectacular results.
The tournament's scoring conditions proved ideal Thursday, with soft greens and minimal wind allowing players to attack pins aggressively. This sets up an intriguing battle over the next three days, as the field must decide whether to match Pak's aggressive approach or play more conservatively to avoid falling further behind.
With 54 holes remaining, the field faces the challenge of catching a red-hot Pak on a course yielding low scores. As Friday's second round approaches, all eyes will be on whether the leader can sustain his historic form or if challengers like Gilligan can close the gap at this crucial Korn Ferry Tour event. The tournament serves as the 12th stop on the 26-event schedule, with players jockeying for position in the season-long points race that determines PGA TOUR promotion. For Pak, maintaining this level could mean not just a tournament victory, but a significant leap toward securing his return to golf's biggest stage.
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*Originally published on [golfnews.global](https://golfnews.global/article/john-pak-shatters-record-with-61-leads-club-car-championship).*
