Rookie Zach Johnson, a two-time winner at TPC Sugarloaf (2004, 2007), scored 15 points in Modified Stableford to take the first-round lead at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic presented by Vensure.

• The Mitsubishi Electric Classic is being played under the Modified Stableford scoring format.
  • Albatross: 8 points
  • Eagle: 5 points
  • Birdie: 2 points
  • Par: 0 points
  • Bogey: -1 point
  • Double bogey or more: -3 points

Zach Johnson (first/+15)

• The 50-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (fifth start).
  • Previous win: 2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational
• Has finished in the top 10 in each of his four previous starts since turning 50 years old on February 24.
  • Other finishes after winning his debut (chronologically): T3 (Cologuard Classic), T2 (Hoag Classic), T8 (Senior PGA Championship)
  • Entered the week ranked No. 2 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings
• This is his first time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions.
  • Previous best 18-hole position: T2 (Hoag Classic) – finished T2
• Looks to become the second multi-time winner of the 2026 season on PGA TOUR Champions (note: this is the seventh event of the 2026 season).
  • Multi-time winner in 2026: Stewart Cink (three wins)
• Was a two-time winner of the BellSouth Classic (PGA TOUR), played at TPC Sugarloaf (2004, 2007)

Thongchai Jaidee (T2/+14)

• The 56-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (106th start).
  • Previous wins: 2022 American Family Insurance Championship, 2023 PURE Insurance Championship
• Seeks his first win of the 2026 season (fourth start).
  • Best finish: fifth (Cologuard Classic)
  • Entered the week ranked No. 21 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Making his sixth appearance at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, his best finish is T26 (two times; 2021, 2024).

Ben Crane (T2/+14)

• The 50-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (fifth start).
  • Best finish: second (Senior PGA Championship)
• Has been inside the top six on the leaderboard in each of his last five rounds after only once in his first nine rounds since turning 50 years old on March 6.
  • Position by round (last five rounds chronologically): T5-T3-6th-second-T2
  • Other appearance in the top six: T5 (2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Round 1)
• Entered the week ranked No. 7 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings.
• Won the 2003 BellSouth Classic, played at TPC Sugarloaf.

Other notes

• World Golf Hall of Fame member Retief Goosen (+12), who won the 2002 BellSouth Classic at TPC Sugarloaf and is a past winner in Modified Stableford (2005 INTERNATIONAL), sits T4 along with Paul Stankowski (+12) and K.J. Choi (+12).
• Making his 200th start on PGA TOUR Champions, defending champion Jerry Kelly (+11) sits T7. Kelly won his 200th start on the PGA TOUR (2002 Sony Open in Hawaii).
• Tournament host and Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (+11) sits T7. Cink looks to become the 10th player in PGA TOUR Champions history to win three consecutive starts.
  • Most recent: Steve Stricker (2022 Sanford International, 2022 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, 2023 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai)
  • Cink’s last two starts: won (Hoag Classic), won (Senior PGA Championship)
• The 2026 Chubb Classic champion, David Toms, withdrew before the start of the first round and was replaced by Brett Quigley (75th).