Fichardt Fires 61 to Take Lead
Darren Fichardt shot an 11-under 61 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead at the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Golf
Darren Fichardt shot an 11-under-par 61 in the second round of the Simmons Bank Championship at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Ark., on Saturday. The bogey-free round gave him a one-stroke lead at 14-under 130 entering the final round.
Why it matters
The 61 tied the lowest round of the PGA Tour Champions season and tied the tournament record set last year by Steven Alker. The round also lifts Fichardt's Charles Schwab Cup position, which projects him from 46th to 13th.
Fichardt's 61 is an 11-under round tying the lowest score of the PGA Tour Champions season, with Johnson one shot back at 13 under after a 67. Fichardt's 28 on the front nine, which included an eagle, shows how the round was built.
The players
Darren Fichardt
Fichardt is a PGA Tour Champions golfer who holds the 36-hole lead at the Simmons Bank Championship.
Zach Johnson
Johnson is a major champion on the PGA Tour Champions circuit who sits one shot behind Fichardt after a 67 in the first round.
Steven Alker
Alker is a PGA Tour Champions player who shot 67 on Saturday and is tied for third at 11 under.
Henrik Stenson
Stenson is a former Open Championship winner who shot 68 on Saturday and is tied with Alker.
The details
Fichardt parred the par-4 first hole, then went birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie over the next four holes. He shot 8-under 28 on the front nine, then birdied Nos. 10 and 11 and parred the next six holes.
Timeline
Saturday: Fichardt shot his 61 in the second round.
Sunday: The final round is played, and the top 36 Charles Schwab Cup standings are set.
Two weeks after Sunday: The top 36 advance to the Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.
Season Trajectory
Fichardt's round matches the lowest score of the PGA Tour Champions season and ties the Simmons Bank Championship record Alker set last year. The projected move into the top 13 of the Schwab Cup standings positions him for the Cup Championship in Phoenix.
Fichardt's projected move from 46th to 13th in the Schwab Cup standings determines whether he qualifies for the Cup Championship in Phoenix. The top 36 after Sunday advance, so the final round directly sets who makes that field.
The takeaway
Fichardt's bogey-free 61 shows how a single round can move a player from the middle of the Schwab Cup standings into contention for the Cup Championship field. Sunday's result will decide which players advance to Phoenix.
What happens next
The final round is played Sunday, and the top 36 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings advance to the Cup Championship in Phoenix in two weeks.
Further reading
For more on the tour standings, see Golf coverage across the United States.
