Kim Si-woo drops four strokes; Poston leads

Im Sung-jae walks toward the 18th hole during the second round of the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, on Saturday. [AFP]
Im Sung-jae walks toward the 18th hole during the second round of the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, on Saturday. [AFP]

Im Sung-jae moved up the leaderboard with aggressive play in the second round of the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament, which carries a $20 million purse.

Playing Saturday at Muirfield Village Golf Club (par 72) in Dublin, Ohio, Im carded an eagle, three birdies, a double bogey and three bogeys for an even-par 72. His two-round total of 1-over-par 145 lifted him from a share of 33rd after the first round to a share of 19th.

Im had been alternating bogeys and birdies when, at the par-5 15th, his approach flew slightly long and rolled to the edge of the green, leaving him 12 meters out. He pulled out a wedge and went straight at the flag — the ball broke 45 degrees on the green and dropped into the cup for eagle.

The gain was short-lived. At the par-3 16th, Im's tee shot found the water, drawing a penalty stroke. He put his third shot on the green but needed two more putts from 7.5 meters, finishing with a double bogey and giving back the strokes he had gained with the eagle.

JT Poston of the United States seized sole possession of the lead at 9-under-par 135 after firing a 7-under round on the day. Ryan Gerard, also of the United States, sat one stroke back in second place at 8-under 136.

Kim Si-woo managed just two birdies while carding a double bogey and four bogeys, falling to a share of 38th at 4-over-par 148.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States and No. 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland both finished at 1-over-par 145, joining Im in a share of 19th heading into the weekend rounds.


yjc@heraldcorp.com