Korean-American Sihwan Kim closed with four straight birdies to grab a three-shot lead alongside playing partner Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand at the halfway stage of the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak on Friday.
The blazing finish saw Kim, the highest-ranked Asian Tour player in the field, sign for a bogey-free seven-under-par 64 and a 12-under-par 130 total to match the efforts of Jazz, who posted a 66, at the highly-rated Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
Starting the round with a three-shot deficit, Kim nailed three birdies to turn in 32 before sinking four consecutive birdies from the sixth to grab a share of the lead at the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its 10th straight edition on the Asian Tour.
Jazz, who trailed by one following an opening 64, extended his bogey-free run to 29 holes before dropping a lone bogey on the par-four third hole. He eventually gained it back with a birdie on his closing ninth hole.
Overnight leader Poom Saksansin of Thailand battled to a 70 to share third place with countryman Sattaya Supupramai (66), Filipino hotshot Miguel Tabuena (66) and Indian talent Gaganjeet Bhullar (65) on matching 133s.
The halfway cut was set at two-under-par 140 with a total of 76 players, including two local amateurs, progressing to the weekend rounds.
The Queen’s Cup, held in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, welcomed a new presenting sponsor in Bangchak Corporation, one of Thailand’s leading energy companies, this season.
Did you know?
- Sihwan Kim is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He sits in seventh position on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to a current haul of US$231,694.
- Kim needed only 23 putts in his solid round of 64. He signed for a bogey-free round highlighted by seven birdies, including four straight ones to close his round.
- The 29-year-old Kim turned professional in 2011 and is currently ranked 247th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
- Kim was born in Seoul. His family moved to the United States in October 2000 when he was 11. Also a former standout from the Stanfort University who won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2004.
- Kim came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2017 and kept his card for the 2018 season after notching three top-10s to finish in 55th place on the final Order of Merit.
- Playing in only his second season on the Asian Tour, Kim claimed his first top-three result when he came in second runner-up at the Hero Indian Open earlier in March. He took home a prize money of US$109,550 to mark his career’s biggest pay cheque ever. He went on to finish tied-fourth at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan the following month.
- Jazz will be making his Major debut at The Open at Carnoustie next month. He earned the coveted spot after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.
- Jazz missed only one cut in 10 starts on Tour to sit in a current 16th place on the 2018 Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.
- He came in runner-up at the Queen’s Cup last year, finishing just one shot back of winner Nicholas Fung of Malaysia.
- Jazz won his first Asian Tour title at the 2017 Bangladesh Open by four shots. The victory was especially sweet for him as he finished outside the top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School. He went on to notch five other top-10s to finish a career-high 13th place on the Order of Merit.
Players’ quotes:
Sihwan Kim (Usa) – Second round 64 (-7), Total 130 (-12)
Putting was the key difference, really. I putted a lot better yesterday and today than what I have been. I kept the ball close to the hole and made some putts out there.
I was able to put the ball in the right spots too. I made some good up and downs. My short game was quite good so I guess that was why I was able to go bogey-free.
Jazz and I were just feeding off the good vibes from each other. He was four shots ahead of me at one point so I just wanted to catch up with him.
I’m happy with where I stand right now. It’s always good to be leading. Hopefully I can continue to do the same over the weekend. I will do the same things, play hole by hole and make some putts.
Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Second round 66 (-5), Total 130 (-12)
I started from the 10th today and I had a good run with no bogeys at all until the third but I managed to recover with a birdie on the last hole ninth. My game was pretty similar to yesterday. I just missed some putts and made a few mistakes out there today. But overall, it’s still a good score and I am happy with that.
I guess I will be playing with Sihwan Kim again tomorrow. He played really good today. It was great out there. We were just feeding off each other and trying to make birdies whenever we can. It was great playing with him.
I just focused on playing my own game. I missed a couple of putts on my opening three holes. I should have make birdies there. I will keep things the same and just go out and have fun tomorrow.
Poom Saksansin (Tha) – Second round 70 (-1), Total 133 (-9)
My tee shots were not that good today but my iron-play was still alright. I wasn’t thinking much out there. I was just trying to hit good shots. The conditions were pretty similar to yesterday.
Coming down the stretch, I was playing with no expectations already so it was great to make a good birdie putt from about 20 feet uphill on my last hole ninth.
Miguel Tabuena (Phi) – Second round 66 (-5), Total 133 (-9)
I am striking the ball really well. I just need to make more putts. I left about four to five putts out there today. I didn’t really hit my wedges well too but I’m happy to return with another bogey-free round today.
My birdie putts were all pretty makeable today. My short game was good. I made some good up and downs for pars as well. This course actually reminds me of my home course back home in the Philippines.
The grass is pretty similar and the greens are quite alike. I have been playing well for the last few weeks so I am just riding on my good form this week.
Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) – Second round 65 (-6), Total 133 (-9)
My front nine, which is the back nine of the golf course, was very good today. I made seven birdies there to turn in 29. It’s the first time I shot a 29 in any nine holes. I hit pretty much every fairway today. I probably missed just one fairway and two greens.
I just couldn’t go low on my back nine today. Even though I shot a 65, I felt like I only shot one-under or two-under. I gave myself a lot of good looks on the greens but wasn’t able to take advantage of it.
We still have 36 more holes to go so I’m looking forward. It was relatively easy today, to be honest. There are not too many tough pin positions today and you can actually make birdie on every hole.
I have been placing my tee shots very good. The key is putting this week. The course is not that long so it’s not that demanding in terms of ball striking. I think it’s going to be a putting competition this week.
I putted well on my front nine. All my birdies were made from inside 10 feet. Once you’re out there on the golf course, you really don’t think so much. You just try to execute every single shot that you have in your mind. That was what I was trying to do.
Scores after round 2 of the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak being played at the par 71, 6951 Yards Phoenix GC course (am – denotes amateur):
130 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 64-66, Sihwan KIM (USA) 66-64.
133 – Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 63-70, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 67-66, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-65, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 67-66.
134 – Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 67-67, William HARROLD (ENG) 67-67, Sadom KAEWKANJANA (am, THA) 70-64, Dino A. GIACOMAZZI (USA) 66-68, Wolmer MURILLO (VEN) 67-67.
135 – WANG Wei-lun (TPE) 68-67.
136 – Jarin TODD (USA) 68-68, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 71-65, Berry HENSON (USA) 71-65, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 66-70, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 66-70, Tanapat PICHAIKOOL (am, THA) 68-68, Chaiphat KOONMARK (THA) 69-67, Rashid KHAN (IND) 69-67, Javier GALLEGOS (ESP) 68-68, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 71-65, Atiruj WINAICHAROENCHAI (THA) 69-67.
137 – Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 68-69, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 67-70, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 69-68, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 65-72, Paul PETERSON (USA) 65-72, Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 66-71, Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 67-70, Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS) 71-66, Sam CHIEN (USA) 70-67, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 69-68, Wongsakorn PIKUNSAWAT (THA) 67-70, Thepbodin AMARANAN (THA) 68-69, Naras LUANGPHETCHARAPORN (THA) 68-69, Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 67-70, Tawan PHONGPHUN (THA) 69-68, Nirun SAE-UENG (THA) 68-69.
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