Rookie Eric Cole signed for a 6-under 66 on the Plantation Course for a share of the clubhouse lead at The RSM Classic.
Cole is the only rookie in the 2022-23 class who qualified for the BMW Championship, finishing 43rd in the FedExCup standings, one of thirteen players in the field inside the top 50.
The RSM Classic is the final event of consideration for the Arnold Palmer Award, given annually to the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year.
Cameron Young, winner of last season Rookie of the Year, and Davis Thompson share the lead after bogey-free first rounds on the Plantation Course.
Matt Kuchar (Seaside Course) shot a bogey-free 65 for a share of fourth place at 5-under.
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, the only non-American in the top-5, and Ricky Barnes finished with 67s on the Plantation Course for a share of fourth place at 5-under.
Also on the Plantation Course, Ben Carr and Peter Kuest, still have a hole to play to finish their rounds and are currently tied in fourth.
The start of play was delayed for an hour due to heavy rain showers and began at 9 a.m. ET. Play was suspended due to inclement weather at 1:45 p.m. and resumed at 4:18 p.m. (2 hours, 33 minutes) before being called for the day due to darkness at 5:17 p.m. with 65 players having completed their round. The first round will resume Friday at 8 a.m., with the second round beginning at 9:15 a.m.
The top 125 in the FedExCup Fall standings thru The RSM Classic will be exempt into all Full-Field events and The Players Championship next season.
Nos. 51-60 in the standings at the conclusion of The RSM Classic will qualify for two Signature Events in 2024 via The Next 10 (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational).
