Hwang Jae-min Shoots 66 Despite 13 m/s Strong Winds to Take Lead in KPGA Tour Championship Round 2

Hwang Jae-min unleashed a fierce performance amid strong winds, rising to the top of the leaderboard on the second day of the KPGA season finale, the Tour Championship.

Playing at the Valley and Ted courses of Teddy Valley Golf and Resort in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Hwang carded an eagle, six birdies, and two bogeys for a 6-under-par 66 in the second round.

Falling just one stroke shy of the course record of 65, Hwang finished with a total of 6-under 138, taking a two-stroke lead over second-place Jeong Jae-hyun.

On a course battered by strong winds reaching up to 13 meters per second, Hwang trimmed six strokes through the 11th hole, highlighted by three consecutive birdies starting from the 9th hole.

On the par-5 13th hole, he holed his third shot from 50 yards out for an eagle.

Hwang said, "I miscalculated the wind on the 13th hole and hit my second shot with a utility club, but it rode the tailwind all the way to the front of the green. It was a lucky day."

Although he missed the green and dropped bogeys on two par-3 holes on the back nine, he did not lose any more strokes.

Set to turn 40 on November 12, Hwang joked, "When I play in tournaments near home, I have to go back and take care of the babies, but coming out of the house seems to have freed my mind, which is why I am playing well."

Hwang, whose best previous finish was a runner-up performance at the 2017 Jinju Savings Bank Caido Men's Open, is seeking his first victory in his 212th career start.

Jeong Jae-hyun, who finished as runner-up after a playoff at the Lexus Masters last week, also jumped into the title race by bouncing back from dropping two strokes on the front nine to rack up five birdies on the back nine.

Shin Sang-hoon and Jung Chan-min, who are locked in a race for the grand prize and prize money title, shot a total of 1-over 145 to tie for 18th place.

Jang Yu-bin, the leader in season prize money and second in grand prize points, was disqualified due to a scorecard error.

As a result, Jang lost his chance to compete for the grand prize, and his position as the season prize money leader is now in jeopardy.

(Photo courtesy of KPGA, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.