Eight birdies fuel 7-under 65; three-shot lead over Han Ji-won

Nine runner-up finishes haunt Choi as she chases first KLPGA win

Choi Ye-rim holes out after making a birdie on the 13th hole during the second round of the OK Savings Bank Utman Open on Saturday. [KLPGA]
Choi Ye-rim holes out after making a birdie on the 13th hole during the second round of the OK Savings Bank Utman Open on Saturday. [KLPGA]

Choi Ye-rim, who has finished runner-up nine times on the KLPGA Tour without a single victory, surged to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the OK Savings Bank Utman Open — purse 1 billion won ($736,000) — putting herself in contention for the first win of her career.

Playing Saturday at Adonis Country Club (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Choi carded eight birdies against just one bogey for a 7-under-par 65.

After shooting a 2-under 70 on Friday, Choi moved to a 9-under 135 total, holding a three-shot lead over Han Ji-won, who posted a 3-under round to sit at 6-under 138.

Choi joined the KLPGA in July 2017 and has reached the runner-up position nine times without ever breaking through. Her most painful near-miss came in June at the McColl·Mona Yongpyong Open, where she finished tied with Kim Min-sol at 12-under 204 before losing on the second playoff hole.

Starting the second round tied for seventh, Choi teed off on the 10th hole (par 4) and quickly moved into contention by reeling off three consecutive birdies on holes 11 through 13. She parred the 14th (par 4), then stuck her third shot close on the 15th (par 5) to add another birdie and keep the momentum going.

Choi dropped her first bogey after missing a 2-meter par putt on the 17th (par 3), but bounced back with a birdie on the 1st (par 4). She then birdied the 5th (par 5) and followed with back-to-back birdies on holes 7 and 8, collecting four birdies on the inward nine alone to claim sole possession of first place.

Meanwhile, Shin Da-in, seeking a second consecutive title, managed only a 1-under round and dropped to third at 5-under 139, four shots off the lead.

Shin had shared the overnight lead but traded three birdies for two bogeys to card a 1-under 71, falling two spots to third at 5-under 139 — still within striking distance heading into the weekend.

Kim Min-sol, chasing what would be an unprecedented fourth rookie win, fired a 2-under round to reach 4-under 140, joining Lee Ye-sol — who managed only an even-par round — in a tie for fourth, five shots behind Choi.


yjc@heraldcorp.com