Kim leads China Open Aussies off pace
BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2010 Volvo China Open | Round Two | 16 Apr 2010
Korean, Kim Do Hoon, leads at the halfway stage of the Volvo China Open in Suzhou, an event co-sanctioned between the OneAsia and European Tours.
Two weeks ago 21 year old Kim finished third at the Luxehills Chengdu Open and just last week won an event on the Korean Tour. He opened up this week’s event with a first round of 64 yesterday and while not quite as brilliant today he heads the impressive field.
For the second consecutive day Kim bogeyed the par four 18th, but he takes a one shot lead over Welshman James Donaldson, current USPGA Champion, Y.E. Yang and Thai star Thongchai Jaidee into the weekend.
Yang finished 8th at last week’s Masters Championship and stormed into calculations today with five birdies in six holes through the middle of his round.
Jaidee was forced to withdraw from last week’s Masters Championship with an arm injury and is playing this week’s event on limited preparation but he has been remarkably consistent for the past twelve months, not missing a cut in his last 23 starts worldwide.
Donaldson has struggled with his game over the last few months but at his last start he finished 6th in Spain and has carried that form reversal over to this week’s event. The 34 year old is still looking for his first European Tour win.
Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Finish golfer, Mikko Ilonen, share fifth place at 9 under and two behind the leader.
Recent Luxehills Chendgu Open winner and China’s number one golfer, Liang Wen Chong, is alone in 7th position at 8 under and looming as a genuine threat to win his own national Open for the first occasion.
Included in the group at 8 under is the 50 year old Corey Pavin who later this year will captain the American Ryder Cup side.
The leading Australasians are New Zealander Josh Geary and Queenslander Steve Bowditch who sit at 4 under par and in a share of 22nd.
Peter O’Malley is at 2 under, David Gleeson and Matthew Millar are at 1 under with Scott Barr, Marcus Both, Richard Lee, Marcus Fraser, Stephen Dartnall and Danny lee making the cut on the number at even par.
Defending champion Scott Strange was one of the 16 Australasians not to make the weekend.
