14 September 2018: Rashid Khan and Gaganjeet Bhullar emerged the best placed Indian golfers after an exciting day of action at the Shinhan Donghae Open. Sanghyun Park ensured that the lead remained in Korean hands with a determined 68 on Friday. He was joined at the top by compatriot Hyungjoon Lee and Filipino star Miguel Tabuena at 9-under 133.
Five men were trailing the leaders by a couple of strokes – Scott Vincent, Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Hyunwoo Ryu, Byeonghun An and Travis Smith – all at 7-under reaching the weekend.
Junsub Park, Joungwhan Park, Y E Yang, Nick Voke and Sanghee Lee are in T9, a further shot adrift from the group in T4. Asian Tour honorary member Yang was in supreme form, firing a brilliant 65 in the second round.
Sanghyun Park made a couple of bogeys in the second round but did just enough to retain a share of the lead with Lee and Tabuena.
“It is important to keep your drives accurate here. I’m fearless off the tee and I’m very confident. Right now, I like the flow where I can set up, and aim for it. The third and fourth round will be more competitive. The players will be up for it and so will I,” said Park.
“The rough is long and the fairways are tight, so people may think they should hit it hard. For me, it’s more important to be accurate. Whether it is a driver, short iron or long iron, you have to hit it onto the fairway; it’s just better than getting into the rough,” he added.
“The bogey at the 10th was a result of inaccurate driving. I couldn’t hit the green in regulation after missing the fairway and ended up with a dropped shot. At this hole, it may be more strategic to aim for a par. I should have played it safe, but I was aggressive for some reason and paid the price for it.”
Rashid made four birdies to navigate his way through the course, after starting on the 10th hole. He conceded a bogey at the 12th but mitigated the loss with a birdie at the 14th. He suffered another bogey at the first hole but rose like a phoenix from there to reach the clubhouse with a spring in his step. Rashid made birdies at the second, fourth and ninth holes to sign on a 69.
Gaganjeet started his day in T2 and made a move immediately. He shot birdies at the 2nd and 6th holes, moving to six under. The man from Chandigarh kept his sheet clean through the 11th, but bogeys at 12 & 17 stole his momentum. Gaganjeet did well to stay under par with a birdie at the 15th, but he will feel disappointed with his return of 70.
Shiv Kapur returned to even terms with the course, adding a 70 to his overnight 72. He is inside for the week at T58. But the knife separated the field at even par and consumed a bunch of Indian golfers.
Ajeetesh Sandhu and Viraj Madappa were nudged just underneath the cut line. They scored 72 and 73 respectively for a 36-hole score of 1-over 143.
Chikkarangappa paid the price for a pair of 72s this week on a par-71 course. Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal suffered significant pain on Friday, ending the day at +6 and +7 respectively.
