The Korn Ferry Tour's Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship saw an exhilarating start as Phichaksn Maichon and S.Y. Noh each delivered outstanding performances, both finishing with scores of 8-under 63, thereby claiming a shared lead after the initial round.
Maichon, a rising talent from Thailand, celebrated a career first by securing his maiden 18-hole lead, a feat made even more memorable by a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole, using a 5-iron from 229 yards. At 24 years old, Maichon, a former Texas A&M athlete, is currently ranked 72nd on the Korn Ferry points list and is actively pursuing his first victory in 31 starts, having previously achieved two top-10 finishes.
Joining him at the top is the experienced Korean golfer, S.Y. Noh, who matched his personal best 18-hole score on the Korn Ferry Tour. Noh, 35, holds the 49th position in the Korn Ferry standings and boasts a previous win at the 2013 Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship among his five top-10 finishes in 75 starts.
Trailing closely, Matthew Riedel and Christiaan Maas are tied for third with impressive 7-under scores. Meanwhile, Jorge Fernandez Valdes, Rick Lamb, and John Marshall Butler are locked in a three-way tie at 6-under par, promising an exciting continuation to the tournament.
Championship Details Unfold at Muirfield Village Golf Club
On September 17, 2026, golf enthusiasts witnessed a thrilling kickoff to the Korn Ferry Tour's Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship at the esteemed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio. The opening round concluded with Phichaksn Maichon and S.Y. Noh seizing the lead, both carding exceptional 8-under 63s. Maichon, a 24-year-old from Thailand and a Texas A&M alumnus, marked his first career 18-hole lead with an incredible hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole. S.Y. Noh, a 35-year-old from Korea, a former champion of this event in 2013, delivered a performance that matched his career best on the Korn Ferry Tour. The second round is scheduled to commence at 7:30 a.m. on September 18, with gates opening an hour earlier to welcome spectators to what promises to be a gripping competition.
The initial day of the tournament presented an engaging display of skill and determination. The impressive scores set by the leading golfers have established a high benchmark, suggesting a fiercely competitive atmosphere for the remainder of the championship. Fans can anticipate more captivating moments as players vie for supremacy on the challenging greens of Muirfield Village.
