Co-leaders Max Greyserman and Eric Cole shot 7-under-par rounds of 64 to kick off the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville on Thursday in Asheville, N.C.
They are one shot ahead of Chris Kirk, Ben Kohles, Jackson Suber, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and Peter Malnati as the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series began at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
In Greyserman and Cole, the event has a pair of leaders ranked inside the top 100 in the world who nevertheless have yet to win a PGA Tour event. They’ve come close plenty of times, with Greyserman owning five career second-place finishes and Cole collecting five top-threes. Both have also lost in tournament playoffs.
Greyserman, 31, made eight birdies in his round, including four in a row at Nos. 7-10. His day included birdie putts of 18 and 16 1/2 feet at the par-3 seventh and 14th holes.
Cole, 38, carded eight birdies as well but his only bogey came on his finishing hole, No. 9. He made 109 feet of putts, including a 21-footer for birdie at No. 1.
Cole finished inside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points race this season, meaning he is secure for next season and has access to all signature events. But Greyserman entered the week a mere 103rd in points and would rocket to 51st place with a win.
The top 100 players at the end of the FedEx Cup Fall keep their tour cards. Finishing in the 51-to-60 range grants access to the first two signature events of 2027.
As play wrapped up late Thursday afternoon, several players had signed for a 5-under 66: Pierceson Coody, Jacob Bridgeman, Australian Cam Davis and Ireland’s Seamus Power. Harry Higgs, Austin Smotherman and Neal Shipley were still on the course at 5 under.
