Im shares lead at Honda Classic
Sungjae Im was in the first group to tee off on the first hole Friday at The Honda Classic. He’ll be in the final group Saturday.
Im, the 20-year-old South Korean rookie who around this time last year was winning the first Web.com Tour start of his career, shot a 6-under 64 in the second round at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He shared the 36-hole lead at 6-under 134 with Keith Mitchell (66). It could be a surprise final pairing: Combined, Im and Mitchell have zero PGA Tour wins.
“It’s just nice to kind of feel like you’re in contention and playing well,” Mitchell said. “You’re out there actually trying to make birdies instead of trying to salvage and trying to make a cut ... trying to make a birdie and force it. Today we were just trying to hit good shots.”
Mitchell had five birdies and a bogey Friday; Im had seven birdies and a bogey to match the low round of the week. First-round leader Jhonattan Vegas shot a 64 Thursday, and Adam Svensson had one Friday.
LPGA Tour
Amy Olson’s eagle on the front nine and a late birdie on the 16th hole were enough for the American to emerge from a five-way tie from the first-round lead to shoot a 3-under 69 and take a two-stroke lead after two rounds at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. There was a five-way tie for second —Inbee Park (69), Azahrara Munoz (68), Jodi Shadoff (70), No. 1-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn (71) and No. 3 Minjee Lee (71)
PGA Tour Champions
Kenny Perry shot an 8-under 65 in Tucson, Ariz. to take the Cologuard Classic lead, Mark O’Meara matched the PGA Tour Champions record with eight consecitive birdies in a 66, and former baseball star John Smoltz birdied three of the first eight holes on Omni Tucson National’s Catalina Course, then played the final 10 in 3 over for an even-par 73.
European Tour
Sand proved to be a major hazard at the Oman Open in Muscat Friday. Play was suspended early in the second round because of sandstorms which blew in off the coast lining Al Mouj Golf.