Key facts
- Ben James holds a one-shot lead at the RBC Canadian Open after shooting a 63 in his professional debut.
- James is at 10-under 130, with Sam Burns, Jackson Suber, Haotong Li, Keith Mitchell, and Jesper Svensson one shot back.
- Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood are two shots behind the leader.
- James played bogey-free golf through 36 holes.
- Eric Cole missed the cut for the tournament.
Ben James took the lead in his professional debut at the RBC Canadian Open, firing a 7-under 63 to reach 10-under 130. He started his round with a 25-foot eagle putt and maintained his strong play throughout, playing bogey-free golf over the first 36 holes.
James, who was a four-year All-American at Virginia and led the PGA Tour University ranking, is one shot ahead of a group of five players, including Sam Burns, Jackson Suber, Haotong Li, Keith Mitchell, and Jesper Svensson. Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood are two shots back, along with defending champion Ryan Fox.
Eric Cole, who shared the lead after the first round, shot a 76 and missed the cut, impacting his chances for a U.S. Open exemption. James, who has already qualified for his third straight U.S. Open, expressed excitement about playing in the final group and experiencing the pressure of contention in his first professional event.