Tabbed by some to win on the PGA Tour for the first time in 2026, Chandler Blanchet is halfway there. The winner of last season’s Korn Ferry Tour Finals walked off the Grand Reserve course on Friday with a five-shot lead after his second-round 67 in the 2026 Puerto Rico Open.
Blanchet missed the cut in all five of his previous starts this year but he’s flipped the script in Puerto Rico, posting 16 birdies over his first 36 holes. He started his week with a bogey but has gone 13 under since.
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He’s not only leading the tournament but he’s making plans for the weekend for the first time on the PGA Tour. He was 0-for-8 making the cut in all of his previous starts in the big leagues.
Chandler Blanchet and his caddie react on the 16th green during the second round of the 2026 Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Golf Club.
“It’s no fun practicing on Saturday and Sunday and not playing and waiting five days,” he said after his round Friday. “So will be very happy to play some golf on a Saturday and Sunday this weekend.”
The 30-year-old who played his college golf at West Florida made his first start in 2022 but this is his first year as a member of the PGA Tour, doing so after finishing in the top 20 on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025.
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Blanchet is looking to come out on top at an event loaded with up-and-comers, including John Daly II, who at 7 under will make the cut in his first-ever PGA Tour event, Gordon Sargent, 9 under and in the hunt, 18-year-old Blades Brown, who’s in the top five at 8 under, Ricky Castillo, also at 8 under through 36 holes, and BYU freshman Kihei Akina is at 6 under.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Tour Puerto Rico Open: Chandler Blanchet takes big lead
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