A new clubhouse leader after Johnson's opening 64
On 31 October 2026, South Africa's Darren Fichardt completed a second-round 61 (11 under par) at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, to move ahead at the Simmons Bank Championship. Adding his opening 69 gives the 51-year-old a 36-hole total of 130 (14 under). Golfweek described the score as both a PGA TOUR Champions career low and matches Steven Alker's opening-round 61 from the 2025 edition, rather than establishing a new standalone tournament record.
Zach Johnson, who started the tournament with a bogey-free 64 (8 under) on Friday, was on 11 under when Fichardt finished, alongside Henrik Stenson. Fichardt consequently held a three-stroke lead at that moment, but other players were still competing in round two. This was not a final 36-hole leaderboard for the entire field, much less the conclusion of the 54-hole tournament.
How an 11-under 61 was made
Following an opening par, Fichardt went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie across holes 2–5. He then made par at the sixth and five consecutive birdies at holes 7–11. Six straight pars followed before one final birdie on the par-5 18th. He split the round 28 on the front nine and 33 on the back. Eleven under par does not mean 11 birdies: the total includes an eagle.
For a time he appeared capable of breaking 60, but the 61 itself was a remarkable transformation from Friday's 69. Where Johnson's first-round lead was built on a clean card, Fichardt's advantage came from an exceptional run of scoring.
The playoff stakes exceed one trophy
The Simmons Bank Championship is the second Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs event of the PGA TOUR Champions season. Fichardt arrived 43rd in the points standings, having earned opportunities including three starts via Monday qualifying. Following his 61, the live projected season standings placed him 13th, within the top 36 needed to advance to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. This is a projection contingent on the unfinished event, not a guaranteed qualification.
Johnson has six PGA TOUR Champions wins in 2026 and continues pursuing a potential record-equalling seventh victory for a tour rookie. Stenson entered the week 41st in points, also needing a strong finish to advance.
What remains open
The 54-hole tournament takes place 30 October–1 November at the par-72 Pleasant Valley Country Club, with a $2.3 million purse. The event winner will not be known until Sunday. At publication of the October 31 report, Fichardt had completed his first 36 holes but others had not, and the top-36 season qualification picture remained provisional.
Sources: Golfweek, 31 October report; official PGA TOUR Champions leaderboard.
