Hunter Eichhorn opened with a bogey-free, 9-under 62, highlighted by eagles at the par-4 fourth and par-5 14th, to lead in Round 1 at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, which was suspended due to darkness.

Charting the leader (stats entering week)

Hunter Eichhorn (first/-9)

• Is in line to hold his second 18-hole lead/co-lead in his 20th career start on the Korn Ferry Tour (T1/119th Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro/finished T9)
• Ties his career-low round on Tour (2025 UNC Health Championship/Round 2)
• Missed the cut as an open qualifier at the 2025 LECOM Suncoast Classic, his only previous start in the event
• Boasts four top-10s in seven starts this season, tied for the most top-10s on Tour (Ian Gilligan)
• Earned Korn Ferry Tour membership for the first time via medalist honors at Second Stage of 2025 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry
• Played his way into the 2024 and 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Finals despite not having membership either season; he open qualified into five events across those two seasons, highlighted by a top-10 at the 2024 Veritex Bank Championship (T5)
• Played five seasons at Marquette University (2017-22), where he earned six individual victories, highlighted by medalist honors at the 2018 and 2021 BIG EAST Conference Championship, was a three-time BIG EAST Player of the Year (2018, 2021, 2022), and broke the school record for career scoring average (71.38)
• Prepped at Carney-Nadeau Public School in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where he became the first boys golfer in statewide history to win four individual state titles; he also played three seasons of varsity basketball and averaged 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game as a senior

Jay Card III (second/-8)

• Birdies five of his final six holes (Nos. 4-7, No. 9) to card bogey-free 8-under 63; he is in line to match his career-high 18-hole position in his 48th career start on the Korn Ferry Tour (T2/2023 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open/finished T7)
• Ties his career-low round on Tour (2023 Price Cutter Charity Championship/Round 2, 2023 Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank and Intermountain Health/Round 2)
• Finished T6 at the 2022 LECOM Suncoast Classic, his only previous start in the event, as a Korn Ferry Tour rookie
• Stands No. 85 on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Points List with one top-25 in seven starts (T19/The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island)
• Regained Korn Ferry Tour membership with a No. 2 finish on the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas Points List, as he earned victories at the 2025 KIA Open and 2025 Fortinet Cup Championship
• Previously finished No. 99 on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Points List as a rookie, and No. 112 on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List
• Played one season of collegiate golf (2013-14) as a sophomore at High Point University, where he competed in three events and recorded an 80.38 scoring average across eight rounds; he earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance

Additional notes

• Trinity, Florida, native Nick Gabrelcik (T3/-6), who stands No. 55 on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, opens with a bogey-free 6-under 65.
• Hayden Buckley (T9/-5), winner of the 2021 LECOM Suncoast Classic, opens in 5-under 66.
• Bradenton, Florida, native Philip Knowles (T22/-4) makes six birdies en route to 4-under 67 in his fourth career start at the LECOM Suncoast Classic (MC/2020, MC/2021, T22/2022).
• Three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner Scott Gutschewski (T29/-3), who became the 10th-oldest winner in Korn Ferry Tour history (46 years, 6 months, 22 days) with his victory at the 2023 LECOM Suncoast Classic, cards bogey-free 3-under 68 in his 2026 season debut.
• Miles Russell, a 17-year-old amateur who gained entry to the field with a top-25 at last week’s Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, opens in 2-under 69; he previously finished T20 as a sponsor exemption at the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic at 15 years, 5 months, 20 days of age, becoming the youngest player on record to post a top-25 on either the Korn Ferry Tour (established 1990) or PGA TOUR (on record since 1983).