Neal Shipley fired a career-low 9-under-par 62 and vaulted into the lead at the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville on Friday in Asheville, N.C.
Shipley capitalized on a birdie-birdie-eagle start to his round and rode it to the best score of his young career. The PGA Tour rookie is at 15-under 127 through two rounds, one stroke ahead of Ben Kohles (63).
Ricky Castillo also shot 62 Friday and jumped into a tie for third with Max Greyserman (67) at 11 under. Eric Cole (68) is alone in fifth at 10 under at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
The tournament is the opener of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series, which solidifies playing status for next season for those who did not make the playoffs. The top 100 players at the end of the FedEx Cup Fall series keep their tour cards. Finishing in the 51-to-60 range grants access to the first two signature events of 2027.
Shipley, for example, was a mere 183rd in the points standings entering this week. A win would grant him a two-year exemption on tour along with rocketing him into the top 75, so he could set his sights on the top-60 target.
Shipley leads the field in both strokes gained putting and scrambling (a perfect 11-for-11) through two rounds.
The cut line fell at 3 under par. Notable players who failed to make the cut included Beau Hossler (2 under), Tom Hoge (2 under), Joel Dahmen (1 under), Colombians Camilo Villegas (4 over) and Nico Echavarria (6 over) and Tony Finau (7 over).
