Chandler Blanchet Fires 67 to Tie 36-Hole Puerto Rico Open Lead Record

Chandler Blanchet reached 13-under 131 at Grand Reserve to secure a four-shot lead, while John Daly Jr. moved into a tie for seventh.

Chandler Blanchet carded a 5-under 67 on Friday to reach a 13-under 131 total, establishing a four-stroke advantage at Grand Reserve in Rio Grande. This performance matched the tournament record for the largest lead held through 36 holes. Blanchet secured his position by recording birdies on every par-5, rebounding from a difficult start to the season where he had yet to make a cut on the PGA Tour. Gordon Sargent, who entered the second round just one shot off the pace, posted a 70 to fall into a tie for second place.

The leaderboard features a cluster of players at 8-under 136, including 18-year-old Blades Brown, who shot a 67. Brown, a professional who skipped his high school graduation to join the tour in January, is tied for third alongside Ricky Castillo (68), Jesper Svensson (69), and Jeremy Paul (67). His position keeps him in contention to become the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 95 years, following a recent experience playing in the final group with Scottie Scheffler at The American Express.

John Daly Jr. Debuts with Bogey-Free Performance

John Daly Jr. remains in the hunt for the title after a bogey-free second round left him six shots back of the lead. The Arkansas alumnus is currently tied for seventh in what marks his official PGA Tour debut. His father, a two-time major champion, previously competed in this event six times, making four cuts. The elder Daly’s best finish in Puerto Rico was a tie for 10th in 2015, a year when his son was 11 years old.

The younger Daly’s performance evokes memories of his father’s historic victory at the 1991 PGA Championship. John Daly entered that major as the ninth alternate, only gaining a spot after Nick Price withdrew, before winning at Crooked Stick. Daly Jr. expressed a mindset of having nothing to lose heading into the weekend, aiming to post low scores while maintaining his current momentum.

Teenagers Miles Russell and Blades Brown Make the Cut

Miles Russell, a 17-year-old Florida State commit, successfully made his first PGA Tour cut in his fifth career start. Russell secured his weekend spot by holing a birdie shot from a greenside bunker on his final hole, the par-5 ninth. He joins Brown as one of two teenagers to advance to the final two rounds of play.

Blanchet expressed relief at his performance, noting the frustration of practicing during weekends earlier this year while other players competed. His 36-hole total of 131 provides a significant cushion as the field prepares for the final 36 holes of competition. The leader emphasized the difficulty of waiting five days between events when missing cuts, making his current standing a significant turnaround.

Stakes and Tournament Implications

The winner earns high-stakes exemptions, including a guaranteed spot in next week’s The Players Championship and the upcoming PGA Championship. However, because this is held as an opposite-field event to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it does not offer an invitation to the Masters. The field remains competitive with international representation, as Germany’s Jeremy Paul and Sweden’s Jesper Svensson remain within five shots of the lead.

As the tournament progresses into Saturday and Sunday, the focus remains on whether Blanchet can maintain his record-tying lead or if the chasing pack of teenagers and debutants can close the gap. With a four-shot margin, the leader has established the most dominant mid-point position in the history of the event. The presence of major championship lineage and young talent ensures a volatile weekend.

What to Watch Next

This GOLF storyline will continue to develop in the coming days. Keep an eye on Puerto Rico Open updates as the situation evolves. Upcoming fixtures and roster decisions could shift the narrative significantly.