Korn Ferry Tour spotlight: Record 61 leads in Savannah while a last-man-in fights for security
korn ferry tour week in Savannah opened with a sharp contrast: John Pak produced a record-setting 11-under 61 to lead the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, while Ben Carr—who said he was the last golfer in the field—ended Thursday at 5-under 67 and described the uncertainty of not having guaranteed starts.
How did John Pak take control early at the Club Car Championship?
John Pak led after the first round in Savannah, Georgia, posting 11-under 61 on Thursday at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club. The round set a single-round scoring record at the Club Car Championship, establishing an immediate target for the field as the tournament moved into Friday play.
The opening-round account also noted Pak making birdie on No. 8. Beyond that snapshot, the details of his scoring sequence were not specified, but the number itself—61—defined the day’s top line: a historically low start that turned the first round into a chase.
Why is Ben Carr’s Thursday round also a story on the Korn Ferry Tour?
Ben Carr, a former Georgia Southern golfer, finished Thursday at 5-under par 67, placing him six strokes behind the lead. Carr described his round as a turnaround after a slower beginning.
“Yeah, it was a great round, ” Carr said. “I got off to a bit of a slow start. I think I was even through like seven or eight holes and then kind of got it going. There were definitely some scoring opportunities out there today, so it was nice to take advantage of a few coming in. ”
For Carr, the competitive storyline extended beyond the scorecard. He said the Club Car Championship is only his third start in 2026 on the Korn Ferry Tour, and he emphasized the challenge of staying prepared without a locked-in place from week to week.
“I didn’t have any guaranteed starts, so you’re kind of wondering what you’re going to get into, ” Carr said. “And I was lucky enough to get into Argentina and Chile and accumulate enough points to get in this week. I think I was the last guy in the field. So definitely fortunate to be playing and proud of what it took to get in this field. ”
Carr’s second-round tee time was set for Friday at 2: 10 p. m. ET from the first hole.
What does Thursday’s gap—record pace vs. roster uncertainty—reveal?
Thursday’s first-round results in Savannah underscored two realities running in parallel. At the top, Pak’s 61 demonstrated how quickly the scoring ceiling can be pushed when opportunities are converted. In the pack behind him, Carr’s situation highlighted a different pressure point: the weeks when even getting into the field is a hurdle, and a solid round becomes both a competitive statement and a bid for stability.
Players also pointed to a shift in setting. Carr said the return to the United States after the season began overseas was welcomed, and for him it carried added personal meaning because of the proximity to Statesboro, where he went to college.
“It’s a blast, ” Carr said. “I love just obviously being in Statesboro and then within just driving distance because, I mean, you’ll have some support. I mean, they travel so well. There are a lot of great people in Statesboro, and they’ve really wrapped their arms around me since I got there in 2018. ”
As the Club Car Championship headed into Friday, the scoreboard framed the task clearly: the field must answer Pak’s record-setting pace, while golfers like Carr try to turn limited starts into momentum. That tension—dominance at the top and uncertainty at the margin—remains central to this week’s korn ferry tour storyline in Savannah.
