'Fancy Return' Kim Sung-hyun Co-Leads 'Running' in the 2R of the PGA Opening Sony Open

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Sung-hyun (28), who returned to the PGA Tour for the first time in two years, has jumped to a joint lead in the opening game, beating his brilliant competitors.

Kim Sung-hyun tied three birdies and a bogey in the second round of the PGA Tour's opening Sony Open (total prize money of $9.1 million) at Waiali Country Club (par 70) in Honolulu, Hawaii on the 17th (Korea time).

Kim Sung-hyun, who had an interim total of 9-under 131, was listed at the top of the leaderboard along with Davis Riley, Kevin Roy (USA), Nick Taylor (Canada), and Adrian Dumont de Chasar (Belgium).

It is now only halfway through, but it is a very meaningful achievement for Kim Sung-hyun. Kim Sung-hyun, who played on the PGA Tour from the 2022-2023 season but lost his seed last year, succeeded in returning to the PGA Tour early without Q School through his performance on the Conferry Tour (second division).

Kim Sung-hyun, who returned after two years, started the first round tied for third by sweeping six birdies without a bogey. He started at the 10th hole (par 4) and made a bogey at the 13th hole (par 4), but succeeded in making up for it by making birdies at the 16th hole (par 4) and the 18th hole (par 5).

After that, he continued his par streak for eight consecutive holes in the second half. In the second hole (par 4), his tee shot fell into a water hazard and was penalized, but he made about 7m putt to protect the number of strokes, and in the fourth hole (par 3), he defended the number of strokes with a successful par putt following a perfect escape from the tee shot that fell into the bunker.

Kim Sung-hyun, who entered the last hole (par 5), boldly hit the green with a second shot and birdied with two putts to end the game.

Kim Sung-hyun has yet to win a championship since his PGA Tour debut. His best performance was in second place at the Fortinet Championship in the 2022-2023 season. He is trying to win his first PGA Tour title at this tournament.

Three years ago, Kim Si-woo (31), the winner of the tournament, made five birdies on the first day and made four bogeys to finish 1 under par, but he reduced four shots with six birdies and two bogeys on the day to tie for 22nd place with 5-under 135.

Kim Joo-hyung (24) had to be satisfied that he avoided missing the cut by tying for 47th with an interim total of 2-under 138 at 1-under for the second consecutive day.

Lee Seung-taek (31), who made his PGA Tour debut at this tournament, poured out five bogeys on one birdie on the day, failing to make the cut with a 4-over par and a 2-over total of 142.

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*This content was translated by AI.