Barend Botha on verge of redemption through 36 holes at The Federal Club, Korn Ferry Tour Championship

GLEN ALLEN, Va. – Chandler Blanchet posted a final-round 65 and left French Lick last year as the Korn Ferry Tour Championship winner and with a PGA Tour card. He was in the second-to-last group and began the day two shots behind the leader.

That leader was Barend Botha. He carried a one-shot edge into Sunday’s final round, then posted a 70 and couldn’t hold on. It was a gut punch for the then-22-year-old. But this weekend, at a new venue for the Tour's finale in The Federal Club, Botha has a rare chance at redemption.

“It felt great, it was a great feeling,” Botha said after his opening round at The Federal Club. “We didn’t get it done, so a little disappointed afterwards, but still happy with the way I played last year. Only positives to take from it.”

Now it’s time to go all in for the South African.

“Just try and hit good golf shots, don’t worry about hitting a bad shot,” he said. “Pick your targets and fire at them.”

Botha needs a solo second finish to have a mathematical chance at cracking the top 20 for a PGA Tour card, which he thinks frees him up in Richmond.

“Same as last year, playing with house money. Just go out, try and win,” Botha said after Round 1. “Nothing to lose, so why stress about it.”

Botha is in his second full season on the Korn Ferry Tour. He finished No. 28 on the 2025 Points List, eight spots outside the 20 PGA Tour cards awarded.

Through 36 holes, Botha sits at 12 under after posting a 65 for the second straight day. He is one shot behind 19-year-old Blades Brown, who blitzed the course for a 10-under 61 Friday while trying to make history as the youngest Korn Ferry Tour graduate ever.

He opened the day by going out in 31, including three straight birdies on Nos. 7-9. The putter was working, with Botha cashing in from 35 and 25 feet on Nos. 7 and 8, respectively.

“Seven was kind of a tricky read, pretty quick, but it was nice to see it go in,” Botha said. “And then on eight, I kind of just changed my read over the golf course. My initial read was from the left, and I stood over it, and I was like, this thing is definitely breaking the other way. Nice to make that one, too.”

The birdie on No. 9 came from a committed plan.

“We decided on a line. I just said, 'be aggressive off the tee,' and then myself with the wedge, put the trust in the wedges, and I made birdie,” he said.

That approach has defined his week.

“That’s all we’re trying to do this week, just give myself as many putts as possible,” Botha said. “If they’re going, they’re going. If they miss, they miss.”

It’s a continuation of a strong start. He opened with a 6-under 65 on Thursday, converting all four of his scrambling chances and rolling in just more than 95 feet of putts.

Botha ranks seventh in the field this week in Strokes Gained: Putting and third in SG: Around the Green.

“Yesterday, on the back nine, it felt like I couldn’t miss, but same thing on the front today,” Botha said. “Just confidence is quite high.”

He also credits the stress-free approach.

“I feel like there’s just no pressure at this event,” he said. “I’m not worried about a bad shot out here.”

After Thursday, Botha said he expected a tight race.

“I didn’t think someone would run away with this event with how difficult the greens are, so it’s going to be close,” he said. “The best player will just win.”

Despite being in a similar spot as last year, Botha isn’t dwelling on the redemption storyline.

“Obviously, I want to win the tournament, but whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I’m just going to try and play the best golf I can possibly play to give myself an opportunity to win it.”

Chances to make up for past disappointments don’t come around often, but this weekend in Richmond, Barend Botha will get another look. After all, sports have a funny way of coming full circle, right?