All good for Suzuki at Shinhan Donghae Open

Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki took charge after the second round of the Shinhan Dongahe Open by carding an eight-under-par 64 to lead by three over South Korea’s Jeon Galam and Australia’s Brad Kennedy at the tri-sanctioned event by the JGTO, Asian Tour and KPGA. 
 
Kennedy, a three-time JGTO winner but not since 2018, found form in his wedge game to mark his card with seven birdies en route to a blemish-free 67 while Naoyuki Kataoka posted a 67 to share fourth place with overnight South Korean leader Eom Jae-woong. 
 
Chasing his maiden win on the JGTO this week, Suzuki made his move after opening with three straight pars. His round began to come alive when he made a birdie on the fourth, eagled the next and fired two more successive birdies on six and seven before making three birdies on-the-trot from 11.
 
The 24-year-old, who has yet to finish inside the top 10 this season, dropped his only shot of the day when he bogeyed 16 before recovering with a birdie on the last. 
 
“It feels like it’s the first time I played good golf in a while. I just want to continue getting birdies and improve my score. Not conscious of the leaderboard; I’ll just play my own golf,” said the 24-year-old, whose best ever result came at the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup in 2022, when he finished tied second as an amateur.
 
Joint-first round leader Tomoyo Ikemura signed for a 71 at Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon to end the day tied for sixth with Taiki Yoshida, Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena and South Korea’s Kang Kyung-nam. 
 
50-year-old Kennedy rolled back the years and found the form that won his three JGTO titles as he seeks to end his six-year title drought.
 
“I putted great today and it was probably the best I’ve putted all year. I have been working hard on my game and it just hasn’t come through yet. I managed to hit the fairways although my driver wasn’t perfect. But my wedge game was fantastic and I made lots of nice putts,” said Kennedy.
 
Leading second round scores
131 - Kosuke Suzuki (JPN) 67-64.
134 - Galam Jeon (KOR) 69-65, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 69-65.
135 - Naoyuki Kataoka (JPN) 68-67, Jaewoong Eom (KOR) 65-70.
136 - Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN) 65-71, Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 68-68, Kyungnam Kang (KOR) 67-69, Taiki Yoshida (JPN) 68-68.

End.