Sihwan Kim carded an ace to surge into a six shot lead after the second day of the inaugural Kharkov Superior Cup as the Korean equalled the course record at Superior Golf and Spa Resort with a stunning 64.
That eight under par round came courtesy of eight birdies and a hole in one, and moved the 24 year old to the summit on 14 under par, with Lloyd Kennedy the closest threat on eight under par after the Englishman signed for a six under second round of 66.
Kim’s round could not have got off to a more perfect start as he birdied the par four tenth, his first, before holing out with a seven iron tee shot from 164 yards at the 11th. Incredibly, his was the second ace in as many groups as Denmark’s Mark F Haastrup had carded a hole-in-one in the group immediately ahead.
Indeed, Kim revealed that he had witnessed Haastrup’s shot from the tenth green before repeating the feat minutes later.
“It was crazy because right after Mark hit the shot, in the group ahead, I was wondering where the pin was so I looked back and I saw the ball jump in,” said the Seoul native, who was two shots off the lead after the opening round.
“I was the first one to realise it went in the hole. Then we just got on the tee and I just hit my shot and it went in. It was crazy. He pretty much gave me the line! He put a good image in my head, definitely.
“The ball just faded in with the wind and then it landed about a yard in front of the hole. Because the pin was just over the hump I couldn’t see how it went in but some people on the green saw it was in and waved.
“There were no celebrations for a while because we weren’t completely sure but when we got up to the green, there were a few high fives alright.
“I hit a lot of good shots today and obviously the hole in one helped me to get things going. I putted better today but actually I hit the ball better on the first day.
“I didn’t make too many mistakes and made some good saves so it was all good. I'm trying not to think too much right now because I have been trying to play too well recently which resulted in not great rounds. I'm trying to do too much.
“But I’ll try to stay out there and just let go and play. I think that’s why it’s gone so well in the last few days.”
Kennedy, meanwhile, was delighted to be in contention again but knows he will have a job on his hands to make up ground on his playing partner on moving day in Ukraine.
“I only had one bogey at 17 but other than that I played really nicely today,” said the 28 year old. “I played well on the first day but didn’t hole anything. My wedge play was really good today though and I made a lot of chances.
“Obviously Sihwan has gone crazy low for the first two days but it will be nice to play with him tomorrow and I'm in a good spot. Hopefully I can do what I did today and put some pressure on him but if he carries on the way he’s going at the moment he’ll be difficult to catch."
The other hole in one hero, Haastrup, was one shot behind Kennedy and seven shots off the lead on seven under par after a three under 69. He was joined in tied third by his compatriot Lucas Bjerregaard (70), Englishman Steve Tiley (69), Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer (68) and first round leader Victor Riu (73) of France.
