Lee Tae-hee, 39, a four-time winner on the Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) Tour, took a one-shot lead after the second round of the KPGA Championship (KRW 1.5 billion in prize money).
Lee carded five birdies and a bogey for a 4-under 67 in the second round of the tournament, which continued at the par-71 A-ONE CC in Yangsan, Gyeongnam. With an 8-under-par 134 total, Lee took sole possession of the lead and set the stage for her fifth career victory 메이저놀이터.
Lee is no stranger to this course. The tournament has been held at AONE CC for eight years, since 2016, and her best finish was a tie for 13th in 2016. She missed the cut in 2017-2019-2020, tied for 47th in 2021 and tied for 45th last year.
After starting the day in a tie for fifth place, two strokes off the lead, Lee finished the front nine at 1-under before dropping her second shot to within six meters of the green for birdie on the back three (par-5). On the fourth hole (par-3), she placed her tee shot three meters from the pin to complete the back-to-back birdies. Lee added another birdie on the back nine, finishing with birdies on all three par-5 holes.
Lee said, “For some reason, I haven’t played well in this tournament at AONE CC. This year, I played as if to say, ‘If I play patiently, good results will follow,’ and I got good results.” “I succeeded in making the cut, which was my primary goal for this tournament,” she said. “Both the first and second rounds are playing better than expected, so I will stay calm and focus on my game for the remaining rounds.”
Kim Jong-duk (62), who shot a 1-under 70 on the day, made the cut in a tie for 45th place with a total score of even par 142. In doing so, he broke his own record of being the oldest player to make the cut (61 years, 6 days) set at this event last year. “I will challenge the record for the oldest player to make the cut on the KPGA Tour,” said Jong-Deok Kim, who won the tournament in 1998 and has a lifetime exemption. The KPGA Tour record for the oldest player to make the cut is 62 years, 4 months and 1 day, set by Choi Sang-ho (68) at the 2017 GS Caltex Mae Kyung Open.
Hwang Jung-gon, who was tied for 30th on the first day, shaved five strokes off his score to finish in a tie for second place at 6-under par with Heo In-ho. Lee Hyung-joon, who started the day as the co-leader, dropped three shots to return at 3-under par and tied for 16th with Lee Jae-kyung and Ok Tae-hoon. Defending champion Shin Sang-hoon is tied for 32nd at 1-under par.