Toronto, ON (Sportsbooks) - Daniel Im fired an eight-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead of the season-ending Canadian Tour Championship at National Pines Golf Club.
Leading money winner John Ellis and James Hahn are knotted in second place at seven-under 65.
After the completion of the championship, the top-two players on the Order of Merit will get an exemption into the second stage of the PGA Tour National Qualifying School.
Im is third on the tour's money list with two wins this year. Ellis is first thanks to three victories, so if the leaderboard stays similar to this come Sunday, Im and Ellis would punch their tickets to PGA Tour Q School.
Im broke into red figures with a birdie at the par-four second. He added birdies at four, six, seven and nine to make the turn at five-under 31.
Im flew out of the gate on the back nine with an eagle at the par-five 10th. He dropped a stroke at 11, but got one back thanks to a birdie at the par-four 12th.
His last birdie came at the par-four 17th to give Im the first-round lead.
Tom Stankowski and Graham DeLaeat, sixth on the money list, are tied for fourth place at six-under 66.
Dustin Risdon, who is fifth on the Order of Merit, Michael Wilson, Scott Gibson and Hoyt McGarity are knotted in sixth place at five-under 67.
Wes Heffernan is second on the money list and shot a four-under 68 to headline a group tied for 10th at minus-four.
