Bi-O, Ok go low for Jeju lead

Bi-O, Ok go low for Jeju lead

South Korea's Kim Bi-O. (Photo: Asian Tour)
South Korea's Kim Bi-O. (Photo: Asian Tour)

Jeju: South Koreans Kim Bi-O and Ok Tae-Hoon shot blistering second-round scores of eight-under-par 63 and 64 respectively to take the lead at the US$1.5million International Series Korea yesterday.

They were on 10-under 132 in the Asian Tour event at the Lotte Skyhill Country Club on Jeju Island in South Korea.

Kim Han-Byeol, another home player, fired a 66 for 134, while his compatriot Seo Yo-Seop returned the same score for a total of 135.

Bi-O made nine birdies and dropped just one shot to put himself in the perfect position to win his second Asian Tour event, having been triumphant in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also in South Korea, in May.

The 31-year-old said: "It is really great having my family here, we are having fun here. It's a family trip which allows me to get away from golf a bit."

Starting on the back nine, he quickly found his range with birdies on holes 11, 13, 15 and 16 before making a bogey on 18.

That little hiccup only prompted him to pick up the pace and he made birdies on one, two, four, six and seven.

"My tee shot was a lot better and also my iron game. Obviously I made putts and at the end of the day I made nine birdies," he said.

"I made a mistake on 18 but overall I played solid."

Ok, who is looking for his first win as a professional, made eight birdies and a bogey.

"I struggled a bit on the second half but hung in there," said Ok.

"I really want to win on the Asian Tour and take my game forward and help my dream of getting onto the PGA Tour.

"I'm not good enough yet. My plan is to become successful in Korea first."

Korean Kim Tae-Ho (66), India's Veer Ahlawat (66), American Trevor Simsby (69), South Africans Justin Harding (70) and Ian Snyman (70), and first-round leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand (73) were on 136.

Pavit stole the show on the first day with a 63 and although he was 10 shots worse on the second day he was still happy with his round.

"I actually played quite good today," said the two-time Asian Tour winner.

"It was a little bit windy, and my shots weren't that good. I putted good, but they didn't drop."

He was looking good for much of the round, and having started on 10 he made the turn in one-under but surprisingly dropped shots on six, seven and eight.

"I just missed the greens and my chipping and putting didn't save me. I couldn't get up and down," said the 33-year-old Thai.

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