Kim Tae-hoon 'Leaps to 1-Stroke Lead'... Jo Min-kyu in 2nd Place

Genesis Championship Day 2: 4-Under Surge, Park Sanghyun 3rd, Hong Sunsang 4th, Kim Hanbyul 'Cut Off'

Kim Tae-hoon is teeing off on the 2nd hole on the second day of the Genesis Championship. Photo by KPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is Kim Tae-hoon's (35) leap to the lead.

On the 9th, at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Songdo, Incheon (par 72, 7,350 yards), continuing the second day of the KPGA Genesis Championship (total prize money 1.5 billion KRW), he surged with a 4-under-par round to occupy the top of the leaderboard (6-under-par 138 strokes). Jo Min-kyu (32, Titleist), who was the leader the previous day, scored only 1-under-par and dropped to second place (5-under-par 139 strokes). Park Sang-hyun (37, Dong-A Pharmaceutical) is in third place (3-under-par 141 strokes), and Hong Soon-sang (39, Danu) is in fourth place (2-under-par 142 strokes), continuing the chase.

Starting from third place, two strokes behind, Kim Tae-hoon recorded seven birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey. After birdies on holes 3 and 8, he took a brief breather with a bogey on the 9th hole (par 4), then fired an impressive five consecutive birdies from holes 11 to 15. However, the double bogey on the final 18th hole (par 5), caused by sending his tee shot into the water, was a blemish. Having participated in eight tournaments this year, he has entered the top 5 three times. Leading by one stroke, he has a chance for his fourth career win since the 2018 Dong-A Membership Group Busan Open.

Park Jung-hwan (27) is in fifth place (1-under-par 143 strokes), while Kang Kyung-nam (37, Yooyoung Pharmaceutical), Lee Jae-kyung (21, CJ O Shopping), and Park Jung-min (27) are tied for sixth place (even par 144 strokes), eyeing a comeback. Lee Soo-min (27) is tied for ninth place (1-over-par 145 strokes), and Lee Chang-woo (27, both Srixon), who are second in both the overall and prize money rankings, are tied for 14th place (2-over-par 146 strokes). On the other hand, Kim Han-byul (24, Golfzon), who leads both the overall and prize money rankings, along with Moon Kyung-jun (38, Husem), Kim Bi-o (30, Hoban Construction), and Choi Jin-ho (36, Hyundai Steel), have been cut off.