Lee Jae-kyung smiles brightly during the interview. [사진=대회조직위]
Lee Jae-kyung was lucky to make a birdie on the 17th hole for two days in a row. It is a step toward winning the first Korean Open.
Lee Jae-kyung made 4 birdies in the second round of the Kolon 65th Korea Open Golf Championship (total prize money of 1.4 billion won) jointly organized by the Korea Golf Association (KGA) and the Asian Tour held at Ujeong Hills Country Club (par 71) in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do on the 23rd. , shot a 3-under-par 68 with one bogey.
He is 3 strokes behind Korean American Han Seung-soo (2 days total, 7 under par 135), who took the lead with a total of 4 under par and 138 strokes on both days.
Lee Jae-kyung has two victories in the regular tour. He recorded his first win at the 2019 Woosung General Construction Aramir CC Busan Gyeongnam Open and his second win at the 2021 Genesis Championship. There are no major titles yet. If you win this Korea Open, it will be your first major championship.
Lee Jae-kyung, who started from the 1st hole, made a fresh start with a birdie on the first hole. He also added a birdie on the 5th hole, the easiest hole. After reducing two strokes in the first nine holes, he recorded a bogey on the 13th hole. This bogey was made up with birdies on holes 16 and 17. The 18th hole also aimed for a birdie, but recorded a par and holed out.
Lee Jae-kyung, who visited the press conference, said, “It’s a difficult course. The greens are hard. If you go into the rough, you can’t record a birdie. Tee shots and short games are important. The fairways are narrow.” I tried to get a birdie on a short par 4 or par 5 hole. The first 9 holes were good. I recorded a good result. There was a crisis in the second 9 holes, but I overcame it. I felt good with birdies on holes 16 and 17. It ended well,” he said.
Lee Jae-kyung made a birdie on the 17th hole two days in a row following the first round. The goddess of luck smiled at Jaekyung Lee on the second day.
Lee Jae-kyung said, “I recorded a chip-in birdie in the first round. Today, my approach was hit by a foreign player (Miguel Tabuena)’s ball. It was a lucky birdie. I wish you good luck in the third and final fourth rounds.”
Next, Lee Jae-kyung said, “Victory is determined by the sky. The goal of the Korean Tour this season is the grand prize. I want to win the grand prize and go to the Korn Ferry (PGA Division 2) Tour Qualifying School Final. I also want to go to the 151st The Open Championship. Choi Kyung-ju I did a gallery with the help of the foundation. This time I will go as a player. I will be patient and wait for tomorrow as well.”
Moon Gyeong-jun hit a 4-under 67 with 5 birdies and 1 bogey that day. He was recorded as the Daily Best (highest daily performance). Moon Gyeong-jun said, “The tee shot and putt went well. The fairway was well kept. All three par 5 holes kept the fairway. This course has a lot of variables depending on where the flagpole is placed. If you keep the number of strokes tomorrow, you will be in the top 10, which is the goal of this tournament. I think I can do it. I will rest well for the rest of the time and prepare for tomorrow’s game.”
Han Seung-soo during the round. [사진=대회조직위]
Han Seung-soo, the leader, hit a 2 under par 69 that day. He scored a total of 7 under par 135 over the two days. Han Seung-soo said, “It wasn’t easy because the course was difficult. The finish in the second half was good. I want to rest.”
In the third place group (3-under-par 139 strokes over the two days) were Ham Jeong-woo Ham, Lee Jung-hwan, Canadian compatriot Lee Tae-hoon, Australia’s Brendan Jones, and South Africa’s Ian Sniman.
Kim Min-gyu, who defended the title, was tied for 17th with a total of 1 over par and 143 strokes on both days. The double bogey on the 18th hole was painful.
As a result of the second round, the cut line was set at 5 over par, 147 strokes. As a result, 65 players advanced to the 3rd and final 4th rounds.
Among the amateurs, Jang Yu-bin was the only one who passed. A total of two days, 1 under par, 141 strokes, tied for ninth place.
62-year-old Kim Jong-deok, who challenged the record for the oldest player to pass the cut, had to commit to the next opportunity by finishing in a tie for 123rd with a total of 12 over par and 154 strokes over two days.
Reporter Information Cheonan = Lee Dong-hoon ldhlive@ajunews.com
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