[KPGA 2024] Hana Bank Invitational 2024 / Round 2(ENG Commentary)

good afternoon and welcome to live day two coverage of the Hana Bank Invitational played here on the Victory and challenge nines at the num Chun Chon Country Club just south of the city of chin we’re about 100 km East of so Timothy low here great to have you along for the ride it’s a 1.3 billion Korean one prize Pur up for grabs this week with just over 260 million1 heading the way of the winner of the 10th kpga event of 2024 scoring was pretty solid in the opening round it was a two-way tie for the lead at six under par but it’s Hiroshi iata one of your overnight co-leaders who’s backed up that opening round of 65 with a solid one underpar 70 to sit top of the pile at 7even underpar Yin Park competing a fine round of 69 this morning dwan Lee posting a 67 to join Park in the clubhouse in that chair of second this is the park in South Korean Gulf the winningest player of all time on the kpj tour sangun park but he’s battling right now to try to keep his nose above the cut line just picked up a birdie at seven to get it back to E even and well where well displeased with this wed shot and that’s exactly why you see a lot of undulation in these greens at Nam Chun Chon good take go so close to being crowned player of the year last season with three victories including the shenan dong open already a winner this season at the kpga founders cup beat s Tech Lee in a playoff that’s a pretty fine shot there from good Teo who’s really become a very solid fixture not only on the Korean tour but also on the Asian tour which will be teing up next week at ujong Hills where this man will defend the colon career Open Championship sunu Han the American who goes by the name Steve was a pretty wild t-shot there but does find the putting surface not that that guarantees you making apart going to see a lot of slopes humps and Hollows in these greenes now kosa last play in this group experienced Japanese campaigner throwing a dart straight at it there Cana even par yesterday still even par at the moment out to the back n and one of the pre-tournament favorites Utah sugiura beautifully played there allowing for some release that’s a pretty solid shot for the 22y old from aichi Young song splits his time between the Japanese and Korean tours so it’s a home game of sorts for the 32y old only two under part solid shot there young hand two top 10 already this season in Japan at the crowns and the for the players by The Players Championship that was a stableford format played just over a month and a half ago now to tun Lee Richard Lee as he’s known the Canadian former winner of this Championship made a hole in one yesterday on route to a round of 67 but he’s one over the card and will turn one over par bird not finding its Target at the ninth take a gander up to the 18th hole and former Makey open Champion s Lee going for it two made some good progress on Friday bunker there already four under the card his s now back to g go 625 million Korean one last season look at where s’s got to start this one at 9: just get it to the very precipice of the slow almost on the left Fringe Of The Green from his point and then it’s going to really gather Pace as it swings down to the hole I mean almost an impossible putt from up there is it going to stay up no that’s going to catch the secondary slope and look at this for sangun Park my word it’s almost one of those situations where you’d be better off trying to chip it in all honesty up 2 11 and Yung Han song is right to left for birdie I did note that the greens were looking a little bit sluggish towards the later stages of the afternoon in the opening real but from what we’ve seen thus far they appear to be a little bit quicker still a pretty tough part for susuan at nine slow right up to the midpoint then it should flatten out as it gets onto the correct Plateau keep going keep going yeah not bad for sunu couple of wins on the Japanese tour this win last year at Wu Jong Hills it’s the first time he lifted a trophy on Korean soil Su just through the back of the green just going to be a b it now park for Park very slow working up that steep rise you have to say a three was always going to be a pretty strong possibility from where he left that second shot so back in danger go sangun park onto that projected cut line of one over young man song is PO is one if his career came back in 2016 holding off then world number one Jordan spe to win the SMBC Singapore open it’s couple of Bogies there for yongan now back to one under that was a great shot from kosa this to take him the right side of par as he heads to The Back Nine okay very nicely hold for ryuki kinos being told that’s a that’s a putt for par so must have had some trouble off the tea and with three professional victories on the Japanese tour did win the gateway to the Muno open in okama couple of weeks ago looking his place in the field at the Open Championship at Royal TR next [Music] month birdie at 13 for katsumata co- sanction event between the kpga and the JG GTO this week so lots of representatives from across the North Sea in the Land of the Rising Sun a couple of invited Chinese players as well Chung Cas and point now s Su nowhere near it for Steve unfortunately that’s going to be a three put bogey as well for the American on the KB Financial live Championship two weeks ago on the Korean tour now Richard Lee side Hill hanging lie into 11 does like to play with the trajectory of his iron shots quite a bit this will be a low driving draw wonderfully played from Richard straightest hit in the game Yuki inamori going along nicely today look at 10 from the back edge of the green 29y old from Kima boast five victories as a professional including two Japan open titles 2018 and 2020 now Takahashi oiso started his day on the back nine he’s having a pretty solid one it’s going to get even better lovely pit shot always love a golf course that finishes with a PA five risk reward finish really anything can happen come Sunday afternoon now to this year’s desente match play Champion minku Kim who bested Wang Cho in a epic final that went to a playoff actually took 20 holes I believe before minku eventually prevailed so bucket with his second now sangi long Splash shot required get this about halfway between The Fringe and the hole there is a down slope which should funnel that ball on he’s going to have that putt to Ty wat at the top of the leaderboard still with nine holes to come for sangi those players that took a while to try and find his game again after the 2 years of mandatory military service South Korea and as it was yesterday it is rather congested around the top part of that leaderboard Hol Kim level P 71 today jungwan League following up his solid round of 68 yesterday with a 70 today Kazuki hega produced one of the shots of the opening round when he HED out on the 16th hole for an eagle 2 7 won today for the 2022 shinhan dong open Champion now Lee on 18 to tie the lead very nicely play that is a stellar front line from sangi goes out in 31 and he joins Hiroshi the top the leaderboard here on day two at the Huna Bank Invitational moiso he’s going to get to within one of your now two leaders good up and now bird for the Japanese player as well Kim Korean open Champion 2022 a lovely birdie for minku fly enough just like sunu Han it was Mink’s first victory in South Korea he kissed the cup at Wu Jong Hills two years ago good tick to 12 just pulled it a little wide there that’s going to be a short-sided save required young hansong just needs to start swing putting some good swings together give himself some decent looks he’s two over the card already today with those couple of Drop shots to start his backside vested quite the field to win the Dunlop Phoenix at the end of last year in Japan sug the likes of a few major champions in Brooks kka and reigning US Open Champion Windam Clark who’s defending this week at the number two course at Pinehurst Rory melroy and Patrick kley setting the early Pace in the year’s third major championship there with a couple of 65s the featured group this afternoon now make their way to this 534 M par 510 that it has already claimed some victims this week tomaru utsuki this was his first hole yesterday took a nine and Chan minjong the former meong open Champion took a 12 follow that one up with an 11 at the very next hole my word it can be all sorts of problems if you stray off the straight and narrow pretty much everyone’s going have to play this as a three shotter lay up still pretty tight landing spot trouble right big rock wall to the right hand side of this screen and the PIN to day cut all the way in that back section 37 Paces on this green that can be 51 yards from front to back so absolutely critical to have good distance control and get it onto that back shelf if you even want to have any hope of walking off with a four [Music] Kos his win at the end of May was his first in almost three years was really in the doldrums now Richard Lee Lovely approach into 11 but that is the club that can give the Canadian some issues does tinker a lot with his choice of putter nothing wrong with his ball striking one of the most proficient of the Asian tour and of course domestically here in South Korea 5.4 billion Korean W in Korea prize money for sanin Park sunu lot players going with less than driver here just no need for the big stick do Fairway does run out into a ditch oh good TI got to land this in the fridge races away downhill once it gets on the green there’s a surprise Yuki and the Mori in the middle of a fairway 15 52 left into 11 try to flight to short iron sling it around off that right to left slope of the green is that going to stay up just about that is going to be a rather slippery putt sukura that’s tracking on a nice line straight in for Utah sugiura the reigning Dunlop Phoenix Champion gets to within two of vat and Lee some Talent this kid just 22 years old as well Yan it’s going to be one of the slower puts you’ll face on the 12th coming uphill maybe just wants the dive a little right at the end [Music] K just straight into the rough with his t- shot shouldn’t really bother him too much like I mentioned on that fly over pretty much everyone in this field going to have to play 10 as a conventional three shot power five good Tech pass saving putt up coming for for the youngster coming off a a decent couple of weeks was ninth at the Korean match play and just outside the top 10 in a share of 13th at A1 CC in the kpga championship last week won by gam John Rock Sol it there for good tick only missed one cut this season every time he’s played the weekend he’s finished inside the top 25 a few moments ago sangun Park just looking to lay it up and leave it handy at the 10th broomstick pter this is dihan Lee trying to get himself into red figures and eek away from that cut line good t-shot and a solid putt it’s going to take Dian Lee to one under [Music] sunu got a slight downhill line to contend with here supposed to be coming in a little bit lower we’ll want to squeeze a little to the right turn that one over but keep it in the Fairway he’s quite a long ways back for his third in a Mori downhill but at 11 pretty quick works hard from right to left from good 45 ft barely took a back swing there nicely judged a diminutive Yuki inamori hasn’t won since the ACN championship in October last year he’s looking just a couple of shots of drift of the two men who share the lead at seven underp Hiroshi aat and sangi Lee who still has nine holes to play in the company of Takashi oiso who’s at 6 underpar and Justin de los Santos of the Philippines there’s a brand new BMW up for grabs on this Par 3 13th yet to go it’s yet to been claimed we have seen an ace this week from Richard T Le of course was on the front L six picturesque t- shot B has a lot of hang time so it get it started offline we have seen the breeze a little bit swirly already this Friday they can be heading offline for quite some time just playing 169 today the 13th it’s over 180 M yesterday [Music] [Music] good tick was one of those players that kind of came out of nowhere that the season he did 2023 he hit lots of shots like that to almost winning the Genesis points lless made 200 million one seven starts this year the Korean tour song Ed up for his P back at 12 so still in red figures [Music] three solid t- shots into the 13th Su song and go up to your Championship co-leader sangi with his second into the first only 117 M left pin’s tucked in the back right corner of the green a bit unlucky carried that a Touch Too Far landed on a Downs slope not the toughest up and down he’s left himself through the back now Richard Lee into 12 that pin just four from the left Edge 5 on from the front tilt of the front ption of the screen is from Back to Front going to try and leave your underneath the hole but not on that level namin Chan country CL Club really just rewards such good distance control you can access these pins in these little pockets of the green you can leave yourself some very good birdie opportunities you catch the wrong side at some of these slopes as sanun Park demonstrated at 9 could have issues now oiso into one [Music] mink you Kim got a new caddy on the bag this year that’s Allan Nan Lorenzo for me looped for Andy Ogle Tre for a couple of the American wins now plays his fulltime on the Liv tour with a couple of Asian tour International series events as well good man to have in the bag L that one is a little bit misjudged from minku through the back of the green that’s going to be a test of his short game skills now back to 10 and kenosha’s third got to get it all the way onto that back ledge and he’s done that he’s overdone [Music] that talking about playing in the Open Championship sunu punched his ticket to Royal liverpol pool last year with his win at the Korean open two Open Championship spots available next week at ujong Hills for the top two players in the field not already exempt into 150 second open this is where sangun usually does some of his best work wedges little Feld shots around the greens should be a nice smooth gap wedge for Park just a little off the mark as the veteran sugiura we saw Dian Lee hold this putt just a couple of moments ago putting straight down this slope not too much break we just had to hit it UTA linku got relief off that drainage cover but has to play some kind of low shot fire it into the bank and just have it bump over this hill that is the danger we’re trying to play a shot like that you undercook it a bit could very well come right back down to your feet what’s the thing about this nun Chon Country Club disaster is just one poor Swing Away Richard Le slow put at 12 up this little tier we’ll move to his right yeah good effort nice Pace on that one from the Canadian mq Kim at 11 take two much better this time round but it’s going to be a drop shot for the match play champion Yan song me try and get back on the birdie train here yes he can fabulously H but for y hansong who’s never won in South Korea has two professional victories coming in Singapore jgto co-sanctioned event and of course back in Japan good acceleration through that one for yosuke kosa nicely played [Music] oh go try and get himself to two under oh yes wonderful so good take take go that you like to be in your early 20s and already a four-time winner as a professional golfer s part but on 10 to get him back to even it’s always a little uncomfortable Friday afternoon on the back n you’re just hanging around on that cut mark this feels like you don’t have any room for error which you don’t outside opportunity for sunu take himself to 21 good try just a little wide [Music] [Music] tried to get away but thankfully for ruk kinra that one grabs a piece of the cup and tumbles in for his PA now inamori middle of the Fairway once again but coming in with the heavy artillery here long way back 190 M into this pin at 12 [Music] found the ground under repair section so he’ll get a free drop from that still going to be a a tricky little up and down left for inamori peer back up this 13th hole down by the green just became a father for the first time at the end of last year Richard Lee welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world this has really changed his perspective on life and of course golf as well just a more important things out there than try to chase a silly white ball into a tiny cup hundreds of yards away he really is one of those players that you feel is is overdue another Victory on tour gives himself so many chances he’s in the thick of things so often on Sunday afternoons only a matter of when not if Richard Lee wins again feel the straight at it this par three now sang he pitching back up the hill on one pretty straight forward up and down sangi to stay level with the first look of the day at Ren yunaz zawa the level past 71 yesterday alongside Richard Lee talking to it is the 24y old oh and for good reason graduate of tohoku fukushi University just have one win on the jgt that was the crowns prestigious one at that back in start of May those are the 65 there G so still seeking the first win as a professional Takahashi oiso but he’s only one back with eight to play here on day two meanwhile the other side of the golf course sangun Park and Company will make their way to this par 4 11th is expected here an elevated t-shot you come sweeping and swooping downhill fa does camber quite severely from right to left you can pitch it on the down slope and get a little extra kick and run setting it down to the flat portion of the Fairway but you will have to expect a hang Al for the most part this green is 51 Paces deep in the pin today all the way on the back tier very much like it is on 10 it’s 43 Paces from the front seven from the right Edge you can use the Contours throw it out right of that pin try and sling it around right that slope and fundle it close to that back flag see a lot of players going with less than driver though not trying to challenge that down slope about 285 M off the tea hang back a little bit give yourself a slightly flatter livee for a [Music] [Music] second of course playing from an elevator to you don’t have to go with driver you’re going to get a little extra hang time and distance with your t-shot so players preferring position over power at this par 4 second looks like he’s got that trusty hybrid out predominantly a drawer of the golf ball so this sort t-shot set up nicely for his eye [Music] so he’s taking his free drop in a Mor now does he try to bump this through The Fringe or play the big high Flopper he’s got the hands forward bit of sh ra so probably try to play a slightly lower pitch here no that was a very curious shot from Yuki and amori the head [Music] scratcher Steve that driving iron that two iron [Music] nice catch but where’s this one going looks like it’s a little right it does open out a little bit there I’m not sure if that stayed short of the trouble show you’ve got a for caddy down there that will signal back to Steve rumaging around in his pocket suspect it might be a provisional good take H at 14 coming up the hill for the second [Music] shot well played in the correct section it’s always priority number one believe that’s a ball in the O Dean provisional on the way first t- shot out to the right has it stayed short of trouble for the the Korean open Champion we will have to see young hansong got it to a nice flat spot on 14 in fact he’s got a bit of an uphel ey which is going to help him Elevate this one using that slope just like could take go inamori for par back at 12 up pill working from right to left this is a very strange passage of play for Yuki and amori poor second shot a dubious chip and we’ still got about 3 ft for Bogies go back up to sugiura’s Second shot trying to skip it up the slope instead of used the backboard like his two playing Partners but also very nicely judged the day two action underway at Nam Chun Chan Country Club here at the Hana Bank championship and it’s iata and Lee Korea and Japan who share the lead at seven underpar for for for for for for second shot for sangi Le just a little baby lob wedge from 55 M pin in the front of the green got plenty of spin on that one sangi Lee he has certainly got it locked in today that’s to take him six under par for his round and into the solo lead Richard Lee this one’s going to move from his left it is for birdie so tough to start it high enough coming across that shoulder Richard cut line will come at the end of play today low 65 and ties at the moment that Mark one overp par not that’s going to bother Takahashi oiso just a soft little 30 m pitch took a big swing at it expects some spin on this that’s the problem when you’re a little bit too close to the green sometimes you just don’t have enough speed to make the ball spin make it stick quickly now in Hoy her very popular player in South Korea unmistakable yellow golf ball and long flowing locks and that takes in hoo to one over par to relative safety at the moment it’s one in a row in let’s have a couple more K top of the hill at 11 releasing that right hand over trying to turn this one in from right to left okay pretty solid Shota for his birdie at the 13th that reaction says it all must have been one Violet lip out got it to the bottom of the hill at the 11th sangun [Music] Park just couple of players just unable to get their approach shots to grab into these greens and it’s really flumm some of these boys Richard Le for his park at the 13th oh dear look like it took a little bubble a untimely three which should Le drop back to 200 under [Music] so unable to find that first ball so now has to play the provisional that’s in play this is now fourth shot for sun [Music] suan that’s not going to hold the green through the back goes the American good take go at 14 down this little trough should stay fairly straight on him good try you k to make amends after that sloppy bogey at 11 is that going to ride up the slope is it going to stay there oh dear I think not you song he learned anything from the part of good tick go oh yes he has that’s two in a row for young hansong beautifully hold himself back to three under puffer the cheeks it’s a tough old grind out there I’m Johan Country Club Sayang he’s got a good look at birdie upcoming but this for the moment is to tie oiso for the lead [Music] suur this but should move from right to left for [Music] Utah oh and it’s going to move him up to 600 P into a sheriff third LLY golfing from yungan song and sugiura over the last couple of holes now for the outright lead at two Sang Lee a tough putt just outside right edge with good pace and he is feeling it Sang Lee with the sixth birdie of the day looking at your new leader of the hanab bank Invitational it B didn’t make his putt for bie at 12 fifth shot foru in full crisis mode hello dear oh dear Steve what are we doing [Music] doing that is just I’m should John in a nutshell playing nicely of a sudden you’re looking at Double if not worse in Q ahead at 12 one tracking but going to come up Shy [Music] [Music] try from Sak Park I told you he was pretty good with the wedges around the [Music] greens so sixth shot now for sunu he’s going to have that for a triple bogey [Music] seven an awkward hanging light in this Lea for sugiura at 15 count his lucky stars that the pins of the back right so not as tricky a shot as it could be so it should start to sling around just too much Steam on that roll through and off the left hand side of that green kosa excellent birdy opportunity has it got the pace it does ruk Kosta with the second birdie in three hole starts to make his move [Music] perfectly Place t- shot for young Hong at 15 can keep his foot on the gas pedal [Music] here down of that left trying to cut it back towards the pin like sugura just a little too far left park for his Parts perched on that projected cut line flirt it with the Fairway bunker off the t-shot but that Ball’s on grass for good tick go so for a triple bogey 7 to drop him outside that 10 par safety net that is going to be a bit of a blood boiler for sun suan who started his day so nicely with those three straight birdies but now finds himself in need of a couple more just to ease any pressure coming up the last out to 14 and Richard Lee don’t want to miss this green left that pins only five from the left Edge so expect this one to be at least 15 ft out right of the PIN [Music] solid exactly where he would have been [Music] looking so inamori at the 13th for birdie slightly [Music] downhill can’t believe how much that turns at the end as it loses Pace it’ll be a a harmless three for yuk Mori [Music] [Music] going the driver using the far left side of that t- box trying to open up the angle of this Fairway [Music] than also going with driver which is right around 255 M carry with this [Music] club there’s a bogey on the previous Hill for gotten his Chip Shot ran past the hole we saw him all apart from the short side so now he too like s suan is too over par good tick got a little rise to contend with here like he’s trying to P it into the slope and just have it tumble on up [Music] so soon just got to take a couple of deep breaths refocus here lost the t-shot on 11 outright this one’s heading out right as well okay believe that is his t-shop he’s in play but the swings just deserted him all of a sudden Jing by the sides of those practice Wings safe to assum that sugura is taking the aerial route here at 15 what a shot what touch from Utah sui europeo D Juan bang on the 18th to over power for his round today started on the back night so he’s got N9 and a half holes left to play just off the edge of the here seen how quick the second half of this is going to be nicely paste what are the good guys in Asian golf young Hong very popular figure always indulges his fans with autographs and pictures and is a real pleasure to play golf with see a new tournament leader s demanding par 33 it’s guarded by that round bunker just short the right thing looking out to the left I don’t think that’s going to stay on the green but he’s left in an okay spot okay go for another great [Music] escape just back a little conviction [Music] [Music] so to look up left here nothing good lives short R of this pin on the par three today or wants to Tumble a little left as it gets to the cup can’t get much closer than that unfortunately for Richard Le just going to be a pop [Music] B at 18 get himself a little closer to that projected cut line nice t- shot at 12 down the left hand side of the Fairway but still a long way in 181 M it’s a strange shot did that one come off the bottom groove of the club f be that landed a good 40 yard short of the [Music] green okay it’s in for power for one bang is going to need to find something special in his back [Music] nine just about see the top third of the ball for so this was going to come out with a bit of Top Spin almost safe to say I don’t think he likes that that’s why inside trap that’s no gim me up and down you much rather be where sangan Park is now inamori second into 14 coming up this hill [Music] [Music] gosh on you pitch that in the hole that’s going to worm its way off that slope shot Kos doesn’t hang about ruk really quick golfer we always like to see that in the game of golf sangi lead now leads by one courtesy of a sixth birdie of the day he sits alone at 8 under par hosi done and dusted for his round at 7 under and it’s a quartet who follow closely behind at six for for for for for for got the club face laid wide open second of this par three good shot from Takahashi oiso the slopey greens around Nam Chon Country Club can give some golfers nightmares and couple of head scratches but it really opens up the creative mind of the professional golfer so many different ways to try and access some of these whole locations can you use slopes to your advantage they’re not always there to funnel balls away from pins or reject mediocre approach shots you can try to use them to help how does sangi Lee want to play this from the back of the path three not very well unfortunately misjudging the amount of release he was going to on that one coming from the second cutter rough now Richard Lee coming off a slight uphill light into the 15th even 130 M left for the Canadian but guesses wrong there that’s rolled into a bit of a be patch through the back of this PA for just gone off the boil a little bit Richard Le over the last couple of holes now sangi to stay at eight under par has yet to drop a shot today sangi he has now so just as quickly as he moved into the solo lead will drop back into a tie with the which means Takahashi oiso he going to be only one shot back nothing like gaining a stroke on the leaders having only made a par yongan song was the at the bar for 16th today pin was in a pretty simple spot front right yesterday it’s all the way back today 38 from the [Music] front we heard how firmly Yan’s ball pitched on the Green sugura is going to have to get this one coming in almost vertical if he wants to stop it quickly coming out of that left [Music] rough he’s done just that Ked up nowhere near it for his birdie at 12 it’s a little right on 15 he’s a little left on 16 good dick gool [Music] don’t imagine he’d be overly thrilled with that effort seen a few of these missed already not on this occasion for UK kosa [Music] picturesque Par 3 13th up from way above the level of the green you’ve got a big bunker to the right and well water right of that and that ball spends good extra couple of seconds up in the air so it’ll come down like a sack of potatoes with not much around the pin today got 13 from the front edge and just five from the right PL just a shade under 170 m today so really it’s no more than an eight iron with the elevation for these [Music] players F shot from ruk [Music] some going be very quick once it gets on the green should move hard from left to right V Parks dropped another shot so back at three over Park got close at the SK Telecom open one of the big four tournaments here in South Korea losing the playoff to the Evergreen k j Choy tournament host walking away with the spoils on his birthday no less but that’s the closest sangan parks come to a victory this yearo one and0 in playoffs this season 2 and0 in his career Pat kwat May at sky72 from the shinan dong open title back in September will be returning to sky72 for this year’s Shan Dong open can’t wait to return to winon cooler months of September getting rather warm in South Korea this time of the year exceptionally warm Korean summer as richly craftily nudges that one through the rough chance to save apart now G so cross to the fourth and pins in the front left today 100 m left we should expect some spin on this one it’s a nice full number really rip at this toss it pass and draw it back off that slope very nicely played shot bunker at 18 is katsumata let’s a long chunk and run here don’t need to clip it with spin catch that slope catch that [Music] slope the cook [Music] there s he Le that right rough just got to be worried about tugging this one left with the penalty area it’s going to come up short for sangi that’s okay not too difficult of an up and down he’s left himself to TI the lead at 16 [Music] sukura oh he was robbed there and was tracking somehow defies gravity [Music] fa Le for par at 15 yeah very good up and down for Richard Lee those kind of putts that keep around together young hand song bit of work left in this one just that knee knocking range where you have to be positive keep an Insight right edge of the cup good part for youngan [Music] song send him part don’t want to leave it to late here do with one of these bonus birdies nice Pace it’s only going to be a par now for birdie at 18 kumata looked like it was going to struggle to get there still three under par at the halfway stage of this year’s hanab Bank Invitational 69 today from [Music] Rio K you get to three under part with this birdie P at 13 oh yes he can very efficient track round namun Chon this afternoon for ryosuke kosa it’s a third birdie in five holes and he’s just inching his way up the leaderboard wiam Mori ball well below his feet on this [Music] 15th to get some kind of high towering cut into this back left flag just pitched a little sof in that Fringe unlucky it’s a solid leave nonetheless sanii so many options of how he wants to play this shot but it’s one that a professional would expect to get up and down nine times out of 10 left wanting there wonder if that chip shot that went scuttling by at the par three is just in the back of his mind Yung Hong at the path 3 17th hardly saw anyone able to keep it on the green yesterday H in the back section of the green once more but on the right hand side this time [Music] so slightly downhill but it’s going to concern him too much to tie the lead he’s got it you know oh Takahashi oiso draws level with Countryman and playing partner sangi Lee at seven underpar sua little wrist break at the top of his back so he keeps that club pointing almost at the sky that one’s not going to hang on to the back edge of the green [Music] either s to avoid backto back drop shots okay calmly rolled in for Le three players now tied at seven under good TI Go somehow hit the green on this borderline impossible par three not quite oh wait a minute wait a minute look at this for good take go ah so that’s the secret you don’t want to hit the green you wanted to finish on the green bonus roll out there for kpga Founders Cup champion now inamori up been over this hill for birdie at 15 moving from right to [Music] left ni the judged teok at the 14th kosa going with three you can start this at that right trap just turn a little drawer off it he does pitch from right to left as [Music] well situated 100 km east of soul and just SL slly south of chinchon Nam chinchon Country Club our home this week at the Hana Bank Invitational projected cut line sitting at even pan that’s only seven shots behind your three co-leaders iata oiso and sangi Lee for for for for for for for for G so the fifth with [Music] driver this 27y old from aichi grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie back at the fourth started his day on the back nine and well it’s two Japanese players and a South Korean who lead the way here on day two of the anab bank Invitational s 32 years of age now 4 time winner on tour it one since his Triumph at namol 7even years ago in 2017 it’s 35th on the Genesis points list and 38th on the money list through nine events this year kosa at 14 to keep his little run of birdies going three in the last [Music] five but guess is the bounce wrong and he’s going to have to work out the pace from the wrong level of the green at 14 song just through the back of 17 this is a Sidewinder here really kicks hard towards the right once this one lands on the putting surface pretty well played [Music] pitch s Park SL downhill line always makes it a bit uncomfortable when you’re play into a green that sits above [Music] you that’s more like it this one’s going to work back off the slope good shot there for sanan Park he’s battling successful as he’s been through his career still means so much to make every cut and every tournament he teas it up been s he got some touch on his game or what has all the tools suur up he’s not afraid to use them to bet against the fact that he’s going to be Factor come the final round Sunday Richard Le on the 16th the opportunity it’s right around a third of these it’s probably due for one there it is finally Richard Lee gets one to drop and he’ll move himself back to three under good still a lot of swing from the right for this birdie that’s going to drop for good TI he’s absolutely Relentless you think he’s given up a shot bounc a straight back birdie Birdie’s made in the par three today good take go s very handily done former Singapore open champion how do you get this one close if you ruk [Music] kinra there’s your simple answer you don’t just a mistake with that second shot miscalculation of yardage so thing uphill for this right hand pin on the [Music] fifth that pitch is a little bit softer it could kick left now he’s got a diabolical chip shop from the wrong side of that green come on sangun you need [Music] this especially with that cut line at even par landed a little left nothing going the way of s Park this Friday s one place you don’t want to miss this pin is outright so anything pin High left will do that’s actually worse than Takahashi jiso Le left himself on a downhill like that will the next to Impossible kta with it’s like the pass sa and part up coming to keep his core card tidy for this second round O just Wiggles it in the front well done Ruki Yuki and amori off a fairway I never second to the 16th he’s gone through the back of the green as [Music] well pays the price he miss these Fairways this rough is unpredictable it’s tough to read lies from the thick stuff Richard Lee back on 17 do what goodtech go did and use that little sideboard right at this par three [Music] think about his pitch that exactly where he would have looked and he still tumbled over the back of the green D Lee last time we saw him he was rolling in a but for birdie at 13 this from off the green now with 18 safely through to the weekend one under par sanii looking at a spot to short of The Fringe let take a lot of trust and commitment to fire it into that oh look at this oh he’s played it too well stuck like glue that is unlucky expecting that to bit of a hotter bounce through the fridge and then have some forward momentum to release it down to the hole and it just stuck on him sandpaper can at 15 [Music] goes against his natural shot shape this Fairway he’s going to venture into that popular spot in that left rough so he’s got the club face Open Hands low playing this like a mini bunker shot he’s looking to land this on the green just carried it a little bit too far gosh Dar pitched it in the hall couple of tricky pass saving puts coming up for the co- leaders so we go back to Sagan Park on 15t who’ like kinos predominantly moves his ball from right to left with a little draw [Music] stayed straight on him and it looks like it’s caught that Fairway bunker Richard Lee open to putt this one judge good part Richard Le will keep him three under and that’s only four shots a drift this out a little bit left just have it kick right towards this pin [Music] so Mr par at three made a good po at four so just outside of 10 ft at five for par well done sang Le made it tough at himself but emerges unscathed jiso putting from the opposite side of the hole so for a par four let’s finish the season third place at the crowns lead going into Sunday two at the Mori building cup LED going into the final round before a 74 left him in a share of 12os merging the champion there so he’ll tumble out of that share of the lead leing just Le now yongan song the power five closing hole 249 it’s within range for the South [Music] Korean he’ll get it on the green but it’s not going to make it all the way up that slope still two Good Hits there from Yung hansong have an eagle butt in a couple of moments [Music] time ywa try 1 finish with a flash pitch that ni settle settle oh dear oh dear oh my goodness that’s out of bounds wow I did not see that coming from utas sugiura I is going to be surprised to find that that’s actually gone OB L Hoy H Last Chance Saloon needs a birdie here in an eagle at 18 H looks like he’s headed for an early exit once again in 2024 fourth shot for Su Europe says provisional but we all know that one’s past the white paint that one’s going to go nowhere near the back edge of the [Music] green do have four top 10 finishers this season I hurt baring a albatross at the closing hole it’s going to be your third M cut fourth M cut of the year for the veteran Kos up just find these really awkward ball well below your feet sitting down in the rough [Music] good take go T shot out of bounds on 18 reloaded now playing four is more than likely going to drop at least a shot let find H San he sight of Richard Lee’s Ace yesterday winning him a brand new massage chair [Music] [Music] aori on 17t what you have to do throw it out a little right left of the pin absolutely no chance of holding the green there for in the morning J you see the left half of this screen kicks pretty hard towards the pin could look to land this that left ringe and it should or feed towards that flag TI of that right the pin trying to turn a draw back towards the stick not going to keep it on the right level it’s safely on the pting surface but it’ll be a slow one for the ju so second Parts Third to the 15th really on The Struggle Bus Here season veteran look at this how about that for a pair of hands sangun Park wonderful shot really is a wizard with the wedges what was a three-way tie for the lead back down to a two-way share between iata and S Tashi oiso just dropping a shot UT sugiura looks like he’s going to be dropping at least one the second shot at the par 5 18th venturing beyond the white paint out of bounds good Tech go also had a bit of a misadventure at the last now playing Five for [Music] sukur’s fifth shot drive one in low couple of hops with some [Music] check Inari poor looking Li on 17 this is going to come out tumbling he’s played that very nicely excellent shot from Yuki andori can do what Richard T Lee did and drive it through that back Bank just be a little bit too much loft of that club for can who’s under pressure again to try and keep that card squeaky clean coming up the hill for Takahashi at the sixth think this one a full whack it’s going to be slow particularly late the evening watch out had a look didn’t it P he been in this position a couple of times already this year he’s only made three cuts on the Japanese tour two top 15 finishes out of those three weekends played now y Han song won a second title on the Japanese tour at the KBC Sansan austa championship in August last year that’s going to be a nice tat birdie to end his [Music] [Music] day he will most certainly be sniffing around with 36 holes still to come nicely poised at the halfway point of this Hana Bank Invitational it’s a nice round to 70 for the South Korean s Lee reclaim the solo lead right to left uphill putt at six just laed to try to get up to the cup that power will keep him tied with IAT rushi wat actually had it to 10 under par before bogey on the third and a double bogey at his closing hole to eventually sit at seven under good take to avoid a double bogey at 18 that’s a really frustrating way to end the round for good tick go seven at the last it’s going to be another cut made this week for G tick but we like that t- shot of the 18th back [Music] sui T Bogi for the DL Phoenix Open Champion as well end the day alongside playing partner Yong Han song at four underpar still very much in the conversation this week at the Hana Bank Invitational with 260 million one up for first prize out of that 1.3 billion Korean ju prize purse for for for for for for scoring opportunity upcoming for sangili to try and get clear of a water starts with a good t-shot though at the seventh nice bit of pinball out of that right rough and just about keeps it in the Fairway for at 1550 yet to drop a shot today a couple of really nice pass saving puts is Back Nine he’s going to finally run out of luck at this paf back down to two under goes Ros sui first blemish of the afternoon so we got to trust it send this t-shot out right side of his H does pitch quite aggressively back towards the Fairway hey sh splits the middle great t- shot can be quite a claustrophobic driving Golf Course John lot of elevated T boxes Tree Line Fair really have to be on it te green the job’s not done there find the wrong section of some of these surfaces you could be struggling your way around like minky Kim who’s back in even par and on that cut line to hit little fade so this pin sets up well for him this could be good this could be good okay [Music] should be standing on the car path at 18 but elri not Tak a drop the LI must be okay just going to find the inside bunker well a bunker that’s going to be a very tough third shot he’s left himself lot of sand to come over 40 yards that’ll be a real test for the Canadian to the sight of Kazuki higa’s hole out yesterday 16th San Park par save back at 50 but he will need to run the tables to have any more golf to play in chub this [Music] week it’s going to feed off that slope nicely decent shot from sangun couple of ways to play this the only way you get this close as he’s got to be brave try and pick this really clean he’s got a bit of a a slope past the hall which offers him some margin of error and on the side of caution looked out long there did the right thing Richard kosa back part of this screen doesn’t slope as violently towards today’s whole location is the slope past the opening round pin again these have been firming up a little bit to watch that first bounce doesn’t help when you can’t even pitch it on the green that was poor from Ruki kosa Riso second into the seventh looks like it’s just going to be a layup for Takahashi don’t think he’s going to get to the Green from 267 with Justin iron [Music] so surely going to be a layup here as well all just nestled up against that thick collar of rough just have to play this par five the conventional weight so miss club with the second is now left kosa through the back of 16 all looks to be sitting okay in that rough just got to allow for some [Music] release Richard leap from the upper deck on this 18th flat for the first 10 ft and then gently rides down here all the way into that ball where the pin is for this second round great line have to settle for par Richard Lee going to moving day at three under par seeing the first win of the year and a second Hunter Invitational title San it’s been a a real struggle for him since that triple bogey to start his back nine [Music] that’s not going to make the American feel any [Music] better so we got his z uh on the last it’s going to be a round of one under 70 for the crowns Champion 24 year old safely through to weekend action here in South Korea sangan Park this one’s got to go [Music] looks good just ran out of steam I think he knows that could be his race run this week at the Hana Bank Invitational Kim could just make his stroll up 18 a little bit easier if he can somehow sneak this 30-footer in at 17 [Music] we saw this in the opening round as well the Marines do slow up significantly later in the evening it’s just gone past 5:00 local time Chun third shot for oiso 7 96 M licking his shots here but you need to fly it at least pin High there’s a slope short which will reject the towards the front of the green if this doesn’t cover its full yardage okay safely aboard keep you focus on these like right Edge oh dear oh dear oh dear he’s going to need a four on the 18 MIP forc era there for the match play Champion sang he couple of yards closer then oiso fine shot from here to to Avo back to back drop [Music] shots it was such smooth sailing through 15 holes and through 14 holes and all of a sudden back to back Bogies f kosa have him heading in the wrong direction so the par 3 17th really a a demanding t- shot over 200 M long the shallowest green you’re going to find here at Nam Chon green that right side of the green is going to be our main focus today with that PIN 22 from the front and 12 from the right Edge that right section does kick quite hard towards the left you do pitch on the green this pting surface is so firm so many balls just go shooting on through into that back rough it’s just a a tough hole that ask a very demanding question that’s not even with the wind up yet this week it was a little bit swirly when we came on air about 2 and a half hours ago but it’s calmed down significantly throughout the course of this back nine that sounded thin from sag part just sneaks in on the front edge but yeah he is really battling something in his golf swing this afternoon still not done rolling look at that tumbling further and further away from that back right hole location and wow look at the putt San Parks left himself J so for birdie at seven to move back into a share for the top spot not going to stay up the answer is no just [Music] theart imagine this is a a five ey and maybe even a 6i for y that’s an excellent shot to leave it that section stay on the green it can be done find strike from Kos but just look at how humpy that green is it’s like a it’s like a potato chip that thing for the outright lead once again sang Le on seven for birdie just denied he can scarcely believe it he’ll remain deadlocked with IAT two holes left in his second round check in with Yuki inamori third shot to 18 expect this one know worse than 10 ft away this man’s wedge game seen that a couple of times from Yuki today just unable to get any sort of spin on his wedges it has been a bit of a bizarre day watching Yuki and amori still these even pathway round and very much in the thick of things same can’t be said for his playing partner Bo Kim who has struggled mightily in this second round going with less than driver on Eight Is SoJO a little extra run and release down that right half of the Fairway Mori quickly got up to the green at 18 now playing four it’s a little clumsy about 8 ft in theori and around a 7 anyone sanki staying aggressive he’s got driver here from this elevator t- box steady oh my goodness now was it really necessary to pull out the big stick does he know that that’s in the area it’s just strange choice of Club from [Music] sang s par I think this is he’s doing the right thing here he’s chipping it even though he’s on the green it’s nothing in the rules of golf that say you have to putt it when you’re on the putting surface and the good news is that projected cut has moved back to one over Park bad news for S Park he’s only got two holes to play so you want to shallow out the little Point here pick it off the top of that green and how’s this for a golf shot how’s that for a golf shot sang Park teach me your ways Master some green Keepers who would get very nervous watching the members at their local clubs try that and there’s a reason why this man is the most successful on the Korean tour of all time but he’s still going to need something special on the par 518 it’s a really good par it counts as a two putt even though he’s only used his putter for one of those but part we’ll need a three on 18 Yuki amori Lev past [Music] 71 okay kops has that one in a bit of a strange day for Yuki namori but he’s going to keep himself inside the top 20 36 holes to [Music] play jamaru suuki also with this group three under but he’s going to be missing out after starting his championship with a nine yesterday Bo Kim eight overp pass for his round he’s going to be heading for an early week off weekend off I should say get not St think everyone from that spot has missed that low stops the Run of Bogies with the power at 177 [Music] San not exactly the the week he was hoping for leading up to his title defense next week in chonan at Wu Jong Hills hey a weekend off maybe do him some good again that’s glass our full thinking if I being completely honest no one likes missing cats as a professional golfer downhill light see that pin just kind of the left hand side of the green can you say got nine yards of room left of that flag really I expect this one to be starting at the TV [Music] Tower off on a good line great distance control beautiful shot from Takahashi o so take a bow that PE this is Filipino Justin D Los Santos who’s not had the best of days forgotten third player in this group with a very awkward looking stance and light you’re an eight back at 5 over par into this field by virtue of being a fully exemp member on the Japanese tour money and points count towards both order of merits Korea and Japan so Theo is not going be adding any more Mercedes points to his tally this season for sang with a that very strange decision to hit driver off the T brought some trouble into play found the penalty here he will drop in play three the name there of subasa ukita just picked up another birdie get to 600 part seven years removed from his last victory on toour it there two years military service in there as well for sang he such a disruptor for so many of these Korean professionals plucked away from the game at the You could argue be the prime of your career the prime developmental years of your career the only way to get out of that is an Olympic medal or an Asian Games gold medal so a huge accomplishment for the quartet of SE Kim sunj IM You’ been J and uang Cho snagging gold in HTO towards the end of 2023 games in Paris coming up in a couple of weeks time contested at legol nassia now French Open in rder Cup venue wonderful recovery from s he’s giving himself every chance to escape the eighth with no damage done m q Kim green side bunker at 18 that cut line falling back to one over part thank you Kim nothing crazy here that’s an excellent shot that’s a really good shot from minku Kim look at this he safely thre goia gave his C Allan a heart attack but going to survive halfway cut and this year’s Han Bank Invitational there birdie from mq Kim now means there’s 61 players and even par or better he needs 65 low 65 and ties will make the cut there are still a couple of players out on the golf course who could affect that Mark Jong Jong Yushi Ito tahiro isiaka they’re the one overs who are still out and about coup two overs as well the former kpga Champion sun b Choy J Lee former winner here two holes to play s this one heading right oh oh dear he needs he needs a three no point in playing it safe it’s three or nothing for [Music] sangun suu [Music] it’s got to find some positives to take out of this week yes it’s been a very frustrating Back N I’ll start it with that triple bogey for sunu he’s got a big week ahead of him he heads to defend the colon career open title The Best of the Asian tour will return to South Korea for the second time this season it’s going to be a stack field cannot wait for it I’ll actually be on the ground at Wu Jong Hills covering the action with three-time asan tour winner Anthony Kang so looking forward to your company the Asian tours broadcast of the colon Korea open next week always love coming back to South Korea great food wonderful people lots to do for everyone a lot of screen Golf and Screen baseball played next week I imagine as well maybe we throw in a kbo baseball game to boot now talking about my itinerary for next week let’s get back to Takashi oiso looking to convert after that excellent approach this to tie the lead no start it right we’ll stay right Los Santos for par pretty sure that’s a fora we saw him go long left so it’s going to be another drop shot so that’s going to be a learning experience for Justin lanto has been a pro a couple years now still trying to find that spark find that magic formula see him contend on a slightly more regular basis not to say that once you have it you keep it for life I mean sang Le here a perfect example was on top of the world five wins the time you got to the age of 25 and none since was a 32y old seeking to end that windless drout this week at the Hana Bank Invitational this is a parad after straying into the Heather with his t- shot and that is going to make him feel very good indeed tell you what he’s made some really good puts for p on this back night so Lee will remain t with iata at seven underpar the likes of yinin Park dongan Lee and Takahashi oiso just one shot a drift as play starts to wind down this Friday evening at Nam Chun Chon Country Club for for for for for so one hole left to play in the day of sangili who’s made six birdes in aogi today to move into a share of the lead with Hiroshi just four of his last six cuts two times he played the weekend he went into the final rounds well the final two rounds a share of second place at the crowns and a tie for eighth at the Mori building cup didn’t man to convert any of those into winds though he’s still seeking his first now San par T shot was safe at 18 but obviously no chance to go for it too just has to lay up here and hope for a miracle with this [Music] third s suit four Mist Cuts already this season including one last week at the kpga championship besides his win at the KB Financial live Championship best finish outside of that was a TI for 34th at the SK telop open those were weekend rounds of 7476 oh easy easy oh that that rolls along the other side of the cart paron that could have easily G where UT sugiura did roll out of bounds well he had to hold it gave it a go good thing he’s still managing a smile it’s been a little scrappy te to be to they s but that’s the big difference you can hold Parts nothing is impossible so handily placed in the middle of this Fairway to an elevated green you tend to expect a little bit more spin on wed shots air hasn’t had enough time to create enough friction to reduce the amount of spin by the time the ball gets down back to your level if that makes sense it’s got more spin it spends less time in the air so just something to take note of for a so right as unlikely as it may be s Park is this to make the cut a brief try that this will be the last hole that sangun Park plays and this is’s Hana Bank Invitational be slightly less than a full wed shot for sang Le doesn’t have to worry too much about spitting this off the front of the green all about distance control you want to be in that little shelf where the pin is cut today just on that middle right segment of this green okay just found that shelf he’s got to look to take the solo lead into the weekend here in two Kos still not on the Green in three that’s just a poor pitch from ryosuke who was going along so nicely before those drop shots at 15 and 16 sunu got a drop off the cart path wasn’t going to played off the drainage cover obviously like s Park he’s headed for an early exit in Chun Chon this week for even though he’s off the edge of the green it’s a pretty straightforward little chip for kinos one that you know every now and then you can make so expect this one to at least scare the hole ah you got to hit it Gan was online may be the only player in this three ball to continue his Trek and search for a second win of the year that’s a one under pass 70 for ruk kosa really around that promis to be so much better but there’ll be more golf to play and more opportunities to be had for Rios kosa a dozen wins on the kpga to in Japan it’s going to be a second Mis cut of the season for sangin Park and that’s go isn’t it when it doesn’t really matter you make one missing by one or missing by 10 it’s still going to be an MC for the second time this season for sangid Park two runner-ups and two miscuts but he’ll end his week with a birdie four now oiso on the other side of the golf course for a birdie a temporary over to a share for the lead settle down a Russ a Blood to the Head there for Takahashi oiso four Cuts made and a win but this is going to be a fifth weekend off this season for S suan and that’s just salt in the wound right there was two apart that return for the championship and just imploded on the back nine so can sang Le take take the outright lead through 36 holes this on his final hole of the day for a birdie three it’s got to keep going now it’s going to come up short in the Jaws to be content to be level with hirosi AATA through the first two rounds but that’s a FB round the golf to the 500 pass 66 sang Le seven years removed from his last win on tour he start the weekend at seven under PA that was a little unnecessary stress on the last but it’ll be a par for Takahashi oisa who backs up an opening 67 with a 69 27y old will be one shot behind this 32y old and the 43-year-old Hiroshi iata it’s been an eventful second round here at Nam Chun Chon Country Club so let’s get you up to speed with some of the action that we saw today hirosi was absolutely flying this wonderful approach into the second Hall yielded a birdie which took him four underpar for his round and up to double digits underpar for the championship then at the third Sun suan defends his title next week at Wu Jong Hills at the on ker open started his day with three straight birdies and really had his eye on the top of the leaderboard at that stage but little do we know what was going to happen a little bit later on Yuki inamori bit of a strange day as we said in the broadcast for the two-time Japan open champion this was one of his highlights excellent approach shot into the power for eighth leading to a birdie three 16 San Lee playing the afternoon wave starting on the back nine picked up birdies at 10 11 13 got that one to throw out an anchor right next to the hole for a fourth birdie of the day and he would go on to pick up another at the par five 18 sanki Lee turning in 31 to grab a share of the lead with Hiroshi yata at 10 the match play champion from this year of the Korean open two years ago minku Kim would pour in a birdie to start his back nine and at 12 winner of last year’s Dunlop Phoenix Open on the Japan tour as an amateur beating the likes of Brooks keer and Windam Clark Utah sugiura had the pter working that was a great birdie at the 12 at 13 Yong hansong had a couple of Bogies working on his scorecard but he quickly covered the situation with that nice birdie at the 13th playing a longside song was now four time to a Titleist good take go shinan open Champion the birdie of his own power for 14th yansong find back to to back birdies 2016 Singapore open Champion rekindling some of that putting touch that saw him best at that point world number one Jordan spe to the title The Sentosa Golf Club making the turn with a share of the lead sangi would grab the solo lead with that birdie at two at 11 kinos just quietly going about his business picked up a birdie at nine par 10 P that one in at 11 so all of a sudden kinos had it up to two underpart then at the fourth there was a three-way tie for the lead when this one dropped Takahashi oiso who was playing alongside sangili saw his name alongside Le at the top of the pile that 16 Richard Lee who had a three part at the 13th couldn’t really get anything to drop all day would finally been one to take the Canadian to three under the second Hana Bank Invitational title in three years is Richard Lee y Han song found the green and two at the par 518th wasn’t to be the flashy finish but a simple twart birdie takes yongan song into the weekend at four andart you Kim the three part on 17 just gave himself a little bit of nerves coming down the last but the cut line move to one over par minku made certain of the fact that he was going to stick around for weekend golf in Chun a nice up and down for birdie 36 whole total of even power 142 sang had one final chance at the ninth to take the solo lead but a put that never really had enough Pace to get there so through two rounds here at the hanab bank Invitational it’s Lee anat who the way at seven underpar we certainly are primed for a terrific Saturday ahead the best from Korea and Japan contesting this 1.3 billion Korean one Hana Bank invitation and it’s a Japanese and a South Korean who share the lead at the halfway mark looking forward to your company for moving to action from Nam Chun Chon Country Club to tomorrow afternoon have a lovely Friday ahead until tomorrow this is Timothy L saying have a lovely day and we’ll see you next time on the kpga tour for for for for