Seoul, May 21, 2010: Kim Dae-hyun stayed on course for his second straight OneAsia title when the big-hitting 22-year-old shot a course-record equalling 64 to secure the second-round lead at the SK Telecom Open.The Korean moved to 14-under after bagging eight birdies in another bogey-free round over the 7,241-yard Ocean Course at the Sky 72 Golf Club, near Incheon International Airport.
Bae Sang-moon shot a bogey-free 65 to lie three shots behind his compatriot and good friend as the 23-year-old seeks to regain the title he won in 2007.
K.J. Choi, seeking a fourth SK Telecom Open title, was also bogey-free in a 66 that put the seven-time PGA Tour winner eight-under and sharing third with Australian Andrew Tschudin, who carded a second 68. Scotland’s Simon Yates (69) is seven-under with Korean Lee Yong-hun (68).
Kim, the Korean Tour’s longest hitter, birdied his opener on hole 10 and picked up further shots on 12, 16 and 17.
‘Bigfoot’ then continued the form that earned him this month’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open title with a hat-trick of birdies from four to six and stuck his approach at the par-four ninth to two feet for birdie number eight.
“I feel great. My putting was especially good and I’m happy to have no bogeys for a second day,” said the soft-spoken Kim, who won his first pro title at last September’s KEB Invitational.
“It will be fun playing with Sang-moon, as we’ve played together a lot before. I won’t feel any pressure. However, I really want to win the SK Telecom Open, so I’ll be playing my best this weekend.”
Bae, who played with Choi and also teed off on 10, is determined to regain the title he won three years ago and remained as confident as ever.
“I’m not as angry as I was yesterday. My putting was much better, so I’m happy,” said Bae, who has won the Korean Tour Order of Merit for the past two years.
“K.J. is a fantastic player, so it was great to play with him for two rounds. I’m confident, I like this course, and I think I have a good chance this weekend.”
Lurking behind the young duo is Choi, who again attracted the biggest crowds as he goes in search of his fourth title following wins in 2003, 2005 and 2008, when he shot a course-record 64 at the Ocean Course.
“A six-under round was my goal and my birdie on my last hole ensured that,” said Choi, who turned 40 on Wednesday.
“I’d like to win the title again after missing out last year. The most important shots here are your irons, as you really need to position yourself in the right place on the greens. The fairways are wide open so you can go for your tee-shots.”
Tschudin is playing the tournament and the course for the first time despite playing much of his golf on the Korean Tour since 2008, when he won the SBS Lake Hills Open.
The 37-year-old, who has also won three times on the Hooters Tour, bagged a hat-trick of birdies from five through seven and picked up another shot at 11.
“I played pretty solid again. I hit a lot of greens in regulation and holed a few putts, so it’s going well. I like the course and it seems to suit me. If you hit good irons, you get good birdie opportunities,” Tschudin said.
“I’ve played with most of these guys on the Korean Tour, so I know them well and they’re all good guys. However, this event is new to me as I missed it last year to attend a mate’s wedding in Australia.”
Yates, a veteran of the Asian golf scene, won the SK Telecom Open in 2004 when it was held at Baekahmvista Country Club and is playing at Sky 72 for the first time.
“I’m really happy overall. I played fantastic yesterday and played well again today. I’m using a new set of Srixon irons that I only got five days ago, and I’m even surprising myself with some of my shots,” said the 40-year-old Hua Hin resident.
“I’m playing great from tee to green, but just not holing many putts. I had 33 putts today and still shot a 69.”
Full coverage of this week’s SK Telecom Open is available domestically on Korean
broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), as well as internationally on ESPN Star Sports, ESPN3.com, Network Ten, America One and Bloomberg Television among others.
Since it was launched last year, OneAsia’s tournament schedule has more than doubled in size, offering a multitude of full-field playing opportunities to leading players across the region. In 2010, OneAsia will stage 11 tournaments, ultimately seeking to provide players in Asia with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
SK Telecom Open, OneAsia
Leading second-round scores (par 72)
130 – Kim Dae-hyun (KOR) 66-64
133 – Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 68-65
136 – Andrew Tschudin (AUS) 68-68, K.J. Choi (KOR) 70-66
137 – Simon Yates (SCO) 68-69, Lee Yong-hun (KOR) 69-68
138 – Hwang Jae-min (KOR) 66-72, Kim Do-hoon 752 (KOR) 67-71, Lee Seong-ho (KOR) 66-72, Jung Sung-han (KOR) 69-69, Henry Epstein (AUS) 66-72
139 – Son Joon-eob (KOR) 67-72, Lee Boo-young (KOR) 69-70, John Huh (USA) 74-65, Lee Tae-kyu (KOR) 72-67, Michael Hendry (NZL) 70-69, Cho Min-gyu (KOR) 69-70, Choi Jin-ho (KOR) 69-70, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 66-73, Kim Hyung-sung (KOR) 71-68, Anthony Summers (AUS) 69-70
140 – Maeng Dong-seop (KOR) 71-69, Park Do-kyu (KOR) 70-70, Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 70-70, Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 68-72, Park Sang-hyun (KOR) 70-70, Mahal Pearce (NZL) 71-69
141 – Kang Sung-hoon (KOR) 67-74, Scott Arnold (AUS) 73-68, Anthony Brown (AUS) 71-70, Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 70-71, Kevin Na (USA) 70-71, Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 71-70, Kang Min-sung (KOR) 71-70, Kim Woo-chan (KOR) 73-68
ENDS
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region's best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.
For more information, please contact:
Janice Lee Fang
PR & Media Manager - OneAsia
DID: +65 6236 0362
Mobile: +65 8268 8155
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