Kim Seong-hyeon Takes Surprise Lead in Round 2 of KPGA Hana Bank Invitational, Holds 2-Stroke Advantage

Kim Seong-hyeon has surged to a "surprise lead" in the second round of the KPGA Tour Hana Bank Invitational, fueling his hopes of securing his second career victory in six years.

During the second round held at the Victory Challenge Course of Namchuncheon Country Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Kim carded a 6-under 65, featuring seven birdies and one bogey.

Starting the tournament in a tie for 17th place with a 1-under 70 in the first round, Kim jumped to sole possession of first place with a total score of 7-under 135.

Kim's first and only victory to date came at the KPGA Championship, a major-level tournament held in August 2020.

At the time, Kim was competing on the second-tier tour but managed to pull off a career-defining turnaround by winning the tournament after qualifying through a Monday qualifier.

However, Kim has not claimed a title since then, with his best performance in the six tournaments he has entered this season being two tied-for-6th finishes.

After shaving three strokes off his score on the front nine, Kim maintained his momentum with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes. Although he recorded his first bogey of the day after missing a 1.5-meter par putt on the 15th hole (par 4), he finished strong with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to vault into the lead.

"Because the fairways are narrow, I focused on hitting my tee shots into the fairway as much as possible and was careful with my layup choices," Kim said. "The greens were not easy to attack, but I tried not to force anything and aimed to land the ball in safer areas."

He added, "There are many variables ahead, with strong winds and rain forecast for the weekend. It will be important to remain patient and keep my composure."

Takashi Ogiso (Japan), the 2024 champion of this tournament, recorded a 4-under 67 today, placing him in second with a total of 5-under 137, trailing leader Kim by two strokes.

Kang Yoon-seok, who was tied for the lead yesterday, struggled with an even-par 72, finishing with a total of 4-under 138. He is now tied for 3rd place alongside Taika Semikawa (Japan), Chen Guxin (China), and Eom Jae-woong.

Wang Jeung-hun, who was also tied for the lead after the first round, faltered with a 1-over 72 today. With a total of 3-under 139, he is tied for 7th alongside players such as Jang Yu-bin, who recently returned from LIV Golf this season and won the previous KPGA Classic.

Meanwhile, Moon Dong-hyun, the current leader in Genesis points, struggled significantly, carding two double bogeys, two bogeys, and only two birdies. He finished with a 4-over round, barely making the cut at 1-over 143, tied for 48th place.

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