Zach Bauchou takes lead at Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, eyes PGA TOUR card

FRENCH LICK, Ind. – Zach Bauchou's long season of steady progress is coming to fruition at just the right moment. The 27-year-old fired a second-round 6-under 66 at French Lick's Pete Dye Course, giving him a commanding four-stroke lead at the midway point of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance.

“I've certainly gotten better with my chipping,” Bauchou reflected after his round, which included chipping in for eagle on the par-5 14th for the second consecutive day. He entered the week on the outside looking in for a PGA TOUR card, sitting at No. 35 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, where the top 30 at the conclusion of this week earn full PGA TOUR status for 2025. He’s now projected to jump 22 stops into 13th on the Points List, a huge leap toward achieving his dream.

Another key factor in Bauchou’s resurgence has been his return to AimPoint, a popular putting technique that emphasizes reading greens using body positioning and feel.

“I've struggled with my putting and went back to AimPoint this weekend,” Bauchou explained after his round on Friday. “It's helped a lot just trusting my reads and trying to make good strokes.” Bauchou ranks first in Putts per GIR through two rounds, a notable improvement from his season-long ranking of 29th in the same category.

With just 36 holes remaining at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, Bauchou is on the cusp of achieving his dream and earning a PGA TOUR card – a fitting reward for a season defined by hard work, perseverance and key adjustments at the right time.

“It means a lot,” Bauchou said on holding the lead. “It’s been a long season, and I feel like I’ve gotten better throughout, so it’s nice to show that this week and see some good results so far.”

Additional Second-Round Notes

• Zach Bauchou (first/-10) leads by four strokes after 36 holes, tied for the largest lead after 36 holes in any event this season (Ryan Gerard led by four at the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS).
  • Bauchou has nine top-25 finishes, including four top 10s, in 23 starts this season; his best finish of the year is a T3 (NV5 Invitational).
  • Marks the first lead/co-lead of Bauchou’s Korn Ferry Tour career (making 34th start this year).
  • Prior to turning professional in 2019, Bauchou played collegiately at Oklahoma State University where he was a member of the 2018 NCAA National Championship team.
• Doc Redman (T2/-6), No. 57 on the Points List, establishes a new career-high 36-hole position in a Korn Ferry Tour start (making 31st start this week).
  • Currently in a two-way T2, Redman projects to move from 57th to 34th on the Points List.
  • In 23 starts this season, Redman has six top-25 finishes, including two top-10s, with his best being a T6 at the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club; Redman is in his first full Korn Ferry Tour season after spending the previous four seasons on the PGA TOUR, making 110 starts from 2019-23.
• Frankie Capan III (T2/-6), who is coming off his first career win two weeks ago at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, cards his second consecutive 3-under 69 and sits inside the top 10 after 36 holes for the eighth time this season.
  • A second-year member on Tour, Capan entered the week No. 5 on the Points List and already achieved #TOURBound status with 11 top-25s and six top-10s in 24 starts this season.
• Alistair Docherty (T4/-5) records a second-round 3-under 69 and has just two bogeys through two rounds, tied for the fewest holes of bogey-or-worse this week.
  • Docherty, who has two top-10s in 21 starts this season, entered the week No. 46 on the Points List and is currently projected to move up to No. 39.
• Roberto Diaz (T4/-5), No. 61 on the Points List, cards a second-round 3-under 69 and is inside the top five after 36 holes for the first time this season.
• Alvaro Ortiz (T4/-5) tallied five birdies against four bogeys for a second-round 1-under 71 and sits inside the top-10 after 36 holes for the sixth time this season; he entered the week at No. 55 on the Points List.
• 18-hole solo leader Thomas Rosenmueller (T11/-3), who sits 10th on the Points List and has already achieved #TOURBound status, cards a second-round 2-over 74.
• Based on current projections, the last five players in the top 30 are:
  • No. 26 Danny Walker (T41/+1) – began week No. 25
  • No. 27 Ricky Castillo (T58/+5) – began week No. 24
  • No. 28 Noah Goodwin (T41/+1) – began week No. 26
  • No. 29 Aldrich Potgieter (T41/+1) – began week No. 27
  • No. 30 Trevor Cone (T52/+3) – began week No. 29
• Based on current projections, the first five players out of the top 30 are:
  • No. 31 Sam Bennett (T52/+3) – began week No. 30
  • No. 32 Trent Phillips (T63/+6) – began week No. 31
  • No. 33 Trey Winstead (T35/E) – began week No. 32
  • No. 34 Doc Redman (T2/-6) – began week No. 57
  • No. 35 Brandon Crick (T41/+1) – began week No. 33
• The Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance is the 26th and final event of the 2024 season, and the top 30 players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List upon conclusion of the final round will earn PGA TOUR membership for the 2025 season.
• Upon conclusion of the final round, players ranked Nos. 31-60 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List will earn an exemption to Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, where 2025 PGA TOUR membership will be awarded to the top five finishers and ties.