Japan Tour star Kim Kyung-tae shot a bogey-free four-under-par 68 to hold a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Maekyung Open yesterday.
First-round co-leaders Kim Dae-hyun and Kim Dae-sub each carded a 71 at the Namseoul Country Club to lie two shots off the pace at six-under, one ahead of Japan’s Masaya Tomida (70) and Han Min-kyu (69).
Hong Soon-sang moved to three-under with a 69, while Australians David Gleeson (70), Leigh McKechnie (72), Michael Wright (72) and Stephen Allan (73) were among a group sharing seventh place on two-under. Defending champion Bae Sang-moon was three-over after a 75 at OneAsia’s third event of the season.
Taiwan’s Weng Young-tien just missed the cut at 76.
Kim Kyung-tae, the world’s third-highest ranked Korean, teed off on 10 and picked up four birdies to go 36 holes without a bogey.
“I started off quite slowly, but my rhythm got better as the day went on. I’m really happy as I got myself out of a lot of tricky situations. I had the shots when I needed them and putted well when I needed to,” the 23-year-old said.
Kim, who had four runner-up finishes on last year’s Japan Tour, is seeking his first win in his homeland for three years.
He won the Maekyung Open and two other titles in 2007 on his way to topping the Korean Tour Order of Merit in his first pro season after winning the individual gold medal at the Asian Games.
“There’s a lot of potential bogey holes out there, so I just have to remain focused at the weekend,” he said.
Kim Dae-hyun, the Korean Tour’s biggest hitter, struggled at the start with three-putt bogeys on holes one and five, but the 22-year-old bounced back with three birdies.
“I feel good, especially after the two early bogeys. I hit a great pitching wedge to three feet to birdie 13 and hit my six-iron close on the par-three 17th,” he said. “I like the conditions and I’m looking forward to the weekend. However, Kim Kyung-tae is a really good player and this is like his home course.”
Kim Dae-sub set the clubhouse lead with a steady 71. The 28-year-old birdied two holes before dropping his first shot of the tournament at the seventh.
The mountainous layout is proving a tough test for first-time visitors. But unlike most foreign players, Australian Gleeson knows Namseoul well after a long career in Asia.
The event got under way after an about-turn on threats by South Koreans last week to stay away.
They had cited discontent at the number of places available to locals as well as with OneAsia, launched last year as a rival to the more established Asian Tour, absorbing existing events and offering nothing new.
Concerns were also raised that the tour was being dictated by commercial interests and not those of the players.
Their fears were allayed after OneAsia issued an open letter to clarify its vision and opportunities, with over 90 local golfers now scheduled to start, although some claimed sponsors pressured them to play.
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