LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Chang Kim has won the par-4 fort hall for the second day in a row. This time he extended his lead to five strokes on Friday at the Isco Championship with a 36-yard tip with a 2-under 68.
At the Hurstbourne Country Club on Thursday, Kim shot a 61 in fourth place and took a four-shot lead in the opposing field PGA Tour event approved by the European Tour.
“Obviously, four holes out again,” Kim said. “I don’t know if I’m likely to do that, but boy, if I could make four twos in that hole, I would be very happy.”
Kim also drilled a 35-foot birdie tip on a par 4 to reach 11 under. Chris Ventura (64), Vince Willie (67) and Thomas Rosenmuller (69) finished second with a 6-under.
“I think this is a course you have to stay patient,” said Kim, a 35-year-old former Arizona player born in Korea and raised in Hawaii. “I know I shot a nine yesterday, but the course isn’t that easy.”
The winner of the Japan Golf Tour eight times, he is chasing his first PGA Tour title.
“Low your feet,” Kim said. “I know these guys are very good, someone will catch up. I already know that. All I can do is treat myself like I did when I won all those events.
Tournament winners will receive a two-year exemption and a PGA Championship spot next year. No one on the field will be open next week. Harry Hall, the winner of the playoffs at last year’s Keene Race, is eligible for the Open and plays the Scotland Open.
Kim opened on the par 5 on the 10th with a birdie, dropping strokes on the par 4 No. 11, 16th and the first hole. He hit a 333-yard drive right next to Green before getting the fourth Eagle, birding a par-5 seed and stopping the chip at No. 8.
“I think it’s very important to accept that when you make a mistake, take it and go out with complete confidence, plan your next shot and see what you can do from there,” Kim said.
David Skins (64) was under the age of five, with Rico Hoey (67), Zach Blair (66), Kevin Kissner (69), Nick Hardy (68), Callum Tullen (68), Paul Peterson (68), and Beau Hosler (68).
Junior Jackson Kovrung of Auburn was under one year old after 66 years old. He finished 11th in the John Deere Classic last week.
JB Holmes, a Kentucky native, missed the cut in rounds 74 and 72. He played with sponsor exemptions.