Ivan Cantero opened with a round of 6-under 66 at sun-splashed Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea and will take a one-shot lead into Friday’s second round of the 2024 Genesis Championship.

The 28-year-old Spaniard got off to a terrific start with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 and then added four more in a five-hole span around the turn (Nos. 6, 7, 9 and 10) to reach 6 under. He dropped his first shot on 16 but bounced back with a seventh birdie on 17 to secure the pole position after day one in Korea.

“Obviously I need a good week or I am out of the main Tour, but I have one more week, one more chance and my game is in good condition,” said Cantero, who sits in 117th place (top 114 after this week keep tour privileges).

“I hit good drivers and with this course, if you are in good position, it is possible to have a good score.

“Today I made putts and the last couple of weeks I missed a lot of putts and my confidence was down all the time, and now I am confident with my putting and my driver.

“Of course, playing with Pablo (Larrazabal) is always good, he gave me a lot of advice on the golf course and I am very happy.”

Home favorites Byeong Hun An and Hongtaek Kim were among a group one adrift on 5-under 67, which also included Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, South African Casey Jarvis, Scott Jamieson of Scotland, Swede Jonas Blixt and Englishman Richard Mansell.

One further back was a 10-player logjam at 4 under, headlined by South Korean superstar Tom Kim.

2024 Genesis Championship

Top-10 Leaderboard: Round 1

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 1)
1. Ivan Cantero -6 (66)
2. Byeong Hun An -5 (67)
2. Hongtaek Kim -5 (67)
2. Kiradech Aphibarnrat -5 (67)
2. Casey Jarvis -5 (67)
2. Scott Jamieson -5 (67)
2. Jonas Blixt -5 (67)
2. Richard Mansell -5 (67)
9. Tom Kim -4 (68)
9. Renato Paratore -4 (68)
9. Marcel Schneider -4 (68)
9. Daniel Hillier -4 (68)
9. Alejandro Del Rey -4 (68)
9. Manny Elvira -4 (68)
9. Todd Clements -4 (68)
9. Pablo Larrazabal -4 (68)
9. Seunghyuk Kim -4 (68)
9. Soren Kjeldsen -4 (68)

European tour media’s press release and email used to compile recap.