Blanchet extends lead to 4 strokes in Puerto Rico; Daly Jr. remains 6 strokes behind.
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Chandler Blanchet not only made his first cut of the season on the PGA Tour but also secured a four-shot advantage in the Puerto Rico Open with a 5-under 67 on Friday, alongside a pair of teenagers and John Daly’s son for the weekend.
Blanchet recorded birdies on all the par 5s at Grand Reserve, equaling the tournament record for the largest lead after 36 holes.
Gordon Sargent, who started the day just one shot off the lead, carded a 70 and fell four strokes behind.
Blanchet stands at 13-under 131.
“The early part of the season has been challenging, for sure,” Blanchet remarked. “It’s not enjoyable to practice on Saturdays and Sundays without competing and waiting five days. So I will be very pleased to play some golf this weekend.”
Blades Brown, the 18-year-old who turned professional before finishing high school in January, has another opportunity to become the youngest PGA Tour winner in 95 years. Brown shot a 67 and is tied for third, looking to leverage his experience from playing in the final group with Scottie Scheffler at The American Express last month.
Brown is at 8-under 136, alongside Ricky Castillo (68), Jesper Svensson from Sweden (69), and Jeremy Paul from Germany (67).
“Yeah, we’re halfway there,” Brown stated. “A lot can happen in two days, so I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Daly Jr. played without a bogey and is six shots behind the leader, tied for seventh. The Arkansas alum is making his debut on the PGA Tour.
His father, a two-time major champion, participated in the Puerto Rico Open six times, making the cut on four occasions, with his best finish being a tie for 10th in 2015, when his son was 11 years old.
“It’s fantastic,” Daly Jr. expressed. “This venue has always been one of my favorites to watch my dad play back in the day, so it’s really exciting to make it to the weekend.”
Brown was not the only teenager to advance to the weekend. Miles Russell, the 17-year-old who has already committed to play at Florida State, made his first cut in his fifth PGA Tour appearance by sinking a birdie from the bunker on his final hole at the par-5 ninth.
The winner will earn a spot in The Players Championship next week and the PGA Championship, but not the Masters, as it coincides with the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
John Daly achieved one of the most remarkable victories when he was the ninth alternate for the 1991 PGA Championship, got in after Nick Price withdrew, and then dominated Crooked Stick with his power to win.
Could another unexpected outcome be on the horizon with his son?
“Honestly, I just want to go out there and try to shoot as low as I can,” Daly Jr. said. “I have nothing to lose, so I’ll just go out there, enjoy myself, and continue doing what I’m doing.”
