Asian Tour Release, 21 June 2019: Korea’s Innchoon Hwang carded a two-under-par 69 to grab a one-shot lead over compatriot Kyungnam Kang, young Thai duo Phachara Khongwatmai and Jazz Janewattananond at the halfway stage of the Kolon Korea Open Golf Championship on Friday. All four Indian golfers missed the cut – S Chikkarangappa, Viraj Madappa, Khalin Joshi and Rahil Gangjee fell on the wrong side of the blade.
Hwang, a one-time winner on the Asian Tour but not since 2008, marked his card with three birdies against a bogey to move atop the leaderboard with a two-day total of six-under-par 136 at the highly rated Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
Jazz’s recent switch to a borrowed putter continues to pay dividends as the 23-year-old puts himself in the title mix once again after signing for a bogey-free round of 67, thanks to birdies on the fifth, eighth, 14th and 18th holes.
The 20-year-old Phachara, who opened his campaign with a 67, battled to a 70 to remain in contention for his breakthrough win at the KRW 1,200 million (approximately US$1,067,000) event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korea Golf Association (KGA).
Kang, a 10-time winner on the Korean Tour, posted a 67 to surge into a share of second place with Jazz and Phachara at the prestigious event, which will be part of The Open Qualifying Series for the third year in a row.
Overnight leader Junggon Hwang of Korea returned with a disappointing 75 to slip to ninth place on 140 alongside seven other players, which include Korean American Kevin Na (72), a three-time PGA TOUR winner, as well as K.T. Kim of Korea.
Defending champion Minchel Choi of Korea carded a 71 to tie in 40th place on 144 while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Scott Hend of Australia uncharacteristically failed to advance into the next two rounds as he signed for a 76 for a 150 total.
The halfway cut was set at four-over-par 146 with a total of 72 professionals, who finished inside top-60 and ties, progressing into the weekend rounds alongside the top-three local amateurs Wonjun Lee (75), Youngjun Bae (76) and Donguen Kim (79).
Two spots to The 148th Open at Royal Portrush will be awarded to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) finishing in the top-eight and ties.
Ends.
Did you know?
- Innchoon Hwang is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He won on home soil in 2008.
- Hwang has also won five times on the Korean Tour and the most recent win came at the K.J. Choi Invitational in 2017.
- The 44-year-old Hwang missed only one green in his commendable round of 69 today and missed three greens in his opening round of 67.
- His best finish at the Kolon Korea Open is tied-12th in 2016 and 2018.
- Hwang turned professional in 2002 at the age of 27.
- Jazz Janewattananond birdied all three par-fives in his round of 67 today. He found seven fairways and missed three greens in regulation en-route to his bogey-free round. His scrambling percentage was also 100%. The young Thai has dropped only one shot in 36 holes.
- Jazz is using a long putter, which he borrowed from good friend Scott Vincent in Japan two weeks ago. He used it in the tournament that week and enjoyed a tied-third place finish.
- Jazz has been enjoying a great run of form since winning his third Asian Tour title at the season-opener in Singapore in January. Apart from notching four other top-10s to sit in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Jazz also enjoyed a tied-14th place finish at the PGA Championship last month.
- Enjoyed back-to-back top-5 finishes on the Japan Golf Tour in the last three weeks to move to 61st place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) on June 10 but unfortunately failed to qualify for the U.S. Open after missing the cut-off mark by one rung.
- Sits in 62nd place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) this week and is set to make his second appearance at The Open next month.
- With Order of Merit leader Scott Hend missing the halfway cut in Korea, Jazz would likely need a top-three finish to regain his lead on the money list.
- Phachara Khongwatmai enjoyed a tied-eighth place finish in Korea last month. It was his first top-10 result this season.
- Despite finding only four fairways and nine greens in regulation, Phachara was able to navigate his way around the greens in only 26 putts.
- Phachara won the European Tour’s GolfSixes Cascais 2019 alongside Thai star Thongchai Jaidee at the start of the month.
- Phachara became the youngest winner of a professional tournament when he won on home soil in July 2013 at the age of 14. Came into prominence when he won the 2015 PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship to become the youngest ADT winner at the age of 15.
- Phachara finished in a career-high third place on the Asian Tour Merit standings in 2017, thanks to four top-five finishes which include three runner-up results.
- Prom Meesawat signed for a 68 to trail by three shots in tied-fifth place. He is one of the three Thai players sitting inside top-five and ties at the halfway stage of the Kolon Korea Open.
