It’s a week that will be full of firsts at the inaugural Black Desert Championship, and Ben Kohles got one of the milestones out of the way early.

Kohles aced the 130-yard par-3 17th hole at Black Desert Resort in the opening round Thursday morning, hitting his shot just past the front pin and spinning it back into the cup. It’s the first ace at the Black Desert Championship. It’s also Kohles’ first career ace on the PGA TOUR. It moved Kohles to 1-under through eight holes.

“My caddie kind of put it out there,” Kohles said after signing for a 6-under 65. “He was like, ‘You know what, we haven't made a hole-in-one yet this year,’ right before I hit.”

Watching his two playing partners tee off before him was helpful, Kohles added.

Although this was his first ace on TOUR, it was a long way from his first hole-in-one.

“I think it's No. 9,” he said. “I had three last year, two in tournaments on (the Korn Ferry Tour). Yeah, I think it might have been my fourth in competition now, three on the Korn Ferry, one out here. Yeah, they're always nice trying to add to it.”

Kohles, the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, is making his 80th career start this week, still searching for his first PGA TOUR win. He nearly won THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson but bogeyed the 72nd hole to fall one short of Taylor Pendrith.

Thursday’s ace will certainly help Kohles’ pursuit of that next big milestone. With the afternoon wave still on the course, he trailed only Henrik Norlander (62), Matt McCarty (62) and Kevin Streelman (64).