John Pak concluded the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in the leading position, finishing with a score of 7-under after 18 holes. He made a strong start with an eagle on the 10th hole and played the remainder of the round without any bogeys, collecting five birdies along the way.

Pak’s impressive score of 7-under 63 represents a career-low round for him on the PGA Tour, fueled by a personal drive linked to the New York Knicks experiencing a heartbreaking loss in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers during the Eastern Conference Finals.

After his round, Pak shared his plans for the rest of the day, highlighting a welcome opportunity to relax since his favorite NBA team was not in action that night: “Thankfully the Knicks aren’t playing tonight, so I won’t be stressed about that,” Pak stated. “I didn’t sleep well after that loss last night. I’m going to recover, do a little stretching, and then maybe watch the Thunder game later tonight.”

He noted his disappointment about the Knicks’ performance following a critical moment: “I’m a die-hard Knicks fan, and that was historically one of the worst losses I’ve ever seen in my life,” he expressed.

Die-hard Knicks fan John Pak credits the loss last night for lighting a fire under him. He shot a career best 63 and will be the first round leader at the CSChallengeFW.

Following his victory’s reflection, Pak is poised and could channel his emotions to secure a win at Colonial Country Club as the tournament progresses, especially considering that the Charles Schwab hasn’t seen someone lead wire-to-wire since Ian Baker-Finch in 1989.