Ryan Voois delivered the best round of his young professional career Thursday, firing a 9-under 61 to take the opening-round lead at the Digital Commerce Group Open in Victoria, British Columbia.
The former Illinois standout piled up 10 birdies at Uplands Golf Club and finished one shot clear after 18 holes, giving himself a badly needed opportunity to move up the PGA Tour Americas standings.
Advertisement
MORE: PGA Tour’s Biggest 2026 Surprises Reshaped Golf’s Power Structure
Voois entered the week No. 83 on the points list, making every shot increasingly important with the season winding down. Only the top 60 following next week’s ATB Classic will advance to the season-ending Dominican Republic Tour Championship.
That turns this week into much more than simply another tournament for the 2026 PGA Tour University graduate.
Voois earned PGA Tour Americas membership after finishing No. 25 in the PGA Tour University Class of 2026following four seasons at Illinois.
Since turning professional in June, he’s made six starts and recorded two top-25 finishes, including a tie for 10th at the Osprey Valley Open.
Advertisement
Thursday’s 61 represented a significant jump.
But Voois doesn’t have much room to relax.
Corey Pereira opened with a bogey-free 8-under 62, the lowest round of his 86 career starts in PGA Tour-sanctioned competition, to move into a three-way tie for second.
Unlike Voois, Pereira arrived in Victoria playing from a position of strength.
The Sacramento native entered the Digital Commerce Group Open second on the PGA Tour Americas Points Listafter compiling five top-10 finishes this season.
His biggest result came at the Mexico Championship, where he captured his first PGA Tour Americas victory and strengthened his push toward future Korn Ferry Tour status.
Advertisement
Pereira is currently positioned to finish inside the season-long top 10, which would earn him Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2028.
That creates two very different storylines near the top of the leaderboard.
Pereira is trying to finish off a career-changing season and secure his next promotion. Voois is fighting simply to extend his year.
MORE: Will Cannon Fires 61 to Lead Simmons Bank Open After Round 1
For one round, at least, the rookie had the advantage.
And after 10 birdies and a 61, Voois suddenly has a realistic chance to turn one spectacular Thursday into the biggest week of his professional career.
Read the full article here