Kim maintains surge to spring ahead of chasing pack in Suzhou
April 17, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Unheralded South Korean Kim Do-hoon shot a three-under-par 69 to secure a one-stroke lead on the second day of the US$2.5 million Volvo China Open in Suzhou yesterday.
The South Korean finished with a total of 11-under 133 -- his only blemish yesterday being a bogey on the par-4 18th at the Suzhou Jinji Lake International Golf Club.
The event is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour.
Kim was ahead of a trio of players tied for second place, including Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee who had shared the lead following the opening round.
South Korea's Yang Yong-eun and Briton Jamie Donaldson were also on 10 under.
"I was the last Korean to get a spot (in the field)," Kim said. "So I just wanted to make the cut coming here. But now I'm in the lead I will be aggressive and hope to win."
Ice-cool on the course, Kim is in red-hot form after celebrating his 21st birthday last Sunday with a four-stroke win in the Korean Tour's Tomato Savings Bank Open, a week after sharing third spot in Luxehills Chengdu Open.
He could even afford a bogey on the 18th, the hardest hole on the course, following birdies on three, nine, 10 and 12.
"I thought I'd be nervous because it's such a big event, but I'm not nervous at all.
"There are some world-class players in the field, but that doesn't bother me," said the soft-spoken Kim, who finished runner-up in last year's SK Telecom Open.
?"I've only played two rounds so far, but I feel relaxed and hopefully I can go on to become champion. I'm very confident and I'll continue to play aggressively this weekend."
Thongchai had four birdies and two bogeys for a 70, while Donaldson added a 68 to his first day 66.
Yang -- Asia's first Major winner -- made the most of the warmer conditions yesterday as he enjoyed a hot streak to sink four successive birdies from the 11th to finish on six-under 66.
At one stage it seemed as if he could catch or even surpass Kim's score but an undercooked approach on the short par-4 16th left him short.
Erratic irons on the 17th and 18th also lost him ground and he was lucky to make par on both holes.
"Yesterday was a bit chilly to say the least and that affected my overall game," said Yang. "The elements were much friendlier today so I was more aggressive."
"I'm satisfied as I didn't have much practice, as I've slept a lot due to jet-lag after travelling from Augusta," said Yang, who saved some praise for his young compatriot. "I had dinner with Kim Do-hoon and other Koreans on Wednesday. His game is there. His conditioning is good and he's in better shape than I am right now," Yang said.
Pablo Larrazabal of Spain and Finland's Mikko Ilonen were a stroke further back in fifth place.
Colin Montgomerie restored a little pride in the battle of the Ryder Cup captains.
Although American Corey Pavin finished round two tied for eighth place with a total of seven under, his European counterpart closed the gap to make the cut with four-under.
Chinese star Liang Wenchong (70) is alone at eight-under.
"I missed a couple of birdie chances and my putting wasn't very good, but I'm happy overall," Liang said. "I'm not that far off the lead. Tomorrow is a very important day and I still feel like I have a good chance to be in contention."
Zhang Jin, the 14-year-old qualifier from China, missed out by one shot on becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut on the European Tour after shooting a 72 to finish one-over. Defending champion Scott Strange of Australia also missed the cut after rounds of 76 and 72.
The South Korean finished with a total of 11-under 133 -- his only blemish yesterday being a bogey on the par-4 18th at the Suzhou Jinji Lake International Golf Club.
The event is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour.
Kim was ahead of a trio of players tied for second place, including Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee who had shared the lead following the opening round.
South Korea's Yang Yong-eun and Briton Jamie Donaldson were also on 10 under.
"I was the last Korean to get a spot (in the field)," Kim said. "So I just wanted to make the cut coming here. But now I'm in the lead I will be aggressive and hope to win."
Ice-cool on the course, Kim is in red-hot form after celebrating his 21st birthday last Sunday with a four-stroke win in the Korean Tour's Tomato Savings Bank Open, a week after sharing third spot in Luxehills Chengdu Open.
He could even afford a bogey on the 18th, the hardest hole on the course, following birdies on three, nine, 10 and 12.
"I thought I'd be nervous because it's such a big event, but I'm not nervous at all.
"There are some world-class players in the field, but that doesn't bother me," said the soft-spoken Kim, who finished runner-up in last year's SK Telecom Open.
?"I've only played two rounds so far, but I feel relaxed and hopefully I can go on to become champion. I'm very confident and I'll continue to play aggressively this weekend."
Thongchai had four birdies and two bogeys for a 70, while Donaldson added a 68 to his first day 66.
Yang -- Asia's first Major winner -- made the most of the warmer conditions yesterday as he enjoyed a hot streak to sink four successive birdies from the 11th to finish on six-under 66.
At one stage it seemed as if he could catch or even surpass Kim's score but an undercooked approach on the short par-4 16th left him short.
Erratic irons on the 17th and 18th also lost him ground and he was lucky to make par on both holes.
"Yesterday was a bit chilly to say the least and that affected my overall game," said Yang. "The elements were much friendlier today so I was more aggressive."
"I'm satisfied as I didn't have much practice, as I've slept a lot due to jet-lag after travelling from Augusta," said Yang, who saved some praise for his young compatriot. "I had dinner with Kim Do-hoon and other Koreans on Wednesday. His game is there. His conditioning is good and he's in better shape than I am right now," Yang said.
Pablo Larrazabal of Spain and Finland's Mikko Ilonen were a stroke further back in fifth place.
Colin Montgomerie restored a little pride in the battle of the Ryder Cup captains.
Although American Corey Pavin finished round two tied for eighth place with a total of seven under, his European counterpart closed the gap to make the cut with four-under.
Chinese star Liang Wenchong (70) is alone at eight-under.
"I missed a couple of birdie chances and my putting wasn't very good, but I'm happy overall," Liang said. "I'm not that far off the lead. Tomorrow is a very important day and I still feel like I have a good chance to be in contention."
Zhang Jin, the 14-year-old qualifier from China, missed out by one shot on becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut on the European Tour after shooting a 72 to finish one-over. Defending champion Scott Strange of Australia also missed the cut after rounds of 76 and 72.
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