Sungjae Im Ties for Lead with "Back-to-Back No-Bogey Rounds"... Burns in 3rd Place

Shriners Children's Open Day 2: Remy Joins Co-Leaders at 6 Under Par, Lee Kyung-hoon Jumps to 13th at 7 Under Par

Im Sung-jae is taking an iron tee shot on the 8th hole during the second day of the Shriners Children's Open. Las Vegas, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics) is aiming for his first win of the new season.

On the 9th (Korean time), at the Summerlin TPC in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (par 71, 7,255 yards), the second day of the PGA Tour 2021/2022 season's third event, the Shriners Children's Open (total prize money $7 million), Im posted a 6-under-par round to rise to a tie for the lead (14-under-par 128 strokes). Chad Ramey, tied for the lead, and Sam Burns (both from the USA), the 'Sanderson Farms Champion,' are one stroke behind in second place (13-under-par 129 strokes), eyeing a 'second consecutive victory.'

It is interesting that Im Sung-jae has played 'no bogey' golf over two days. On the first day, he made one eagle and six birdies, and on this day, six birdies alone. He started well with a birdie on the first hole, the 10th hole (par 4), followed by consecutive birdies on holes 13, 15, and the back nine holes 1 and 2. After a six-hole par streak, he finished on a high note with a birdie on the final 9th hole (par 5). His 'computer iron shots' stood out with a maximum drive of 354 yards, hitting the fairway four times and missing the green only once.

Burns is the player to watch. He secured his first victory at the Valspar Championship last May and reached his second career win at the Sanderson Farms Championship on the 4th, showing strong momentum. In Korea, Lee Kyung-hoon (30) added 7-under-par to rise to a tie for 13th place (10-under-par 132 strokes), while first-day leader Kang Sung-hoon (34) fell to a tie for 17th place (8-under-par 134 strokes) after struggling with 2-over-par. Kim Si-woo (26, also CJ Logistics) missed the cut, and Noh Seung-yul (31) withdrew after 9 holes.