Ian Poulter one shot off the

pace in Korea Open

Seoul, October 3: Local hotshot Kim Wi-joong took advantage of the fog delay in the early morning to grab the clubhouse lead at the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open today.
The 28-year-old blasted his second consecutive four-under-par 67 in the second round for an eight-under-par 134 total. He took a narrow one stroke lead over England’s Ian Poulter who nailed a steady 66 to lie in joint second place alongside Kim Dae-sub of Korea who posted a 68 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
There was a two and a half hour delay prior to tee off in the second round due to heavy fog in the early morning.
After a 64 in the opening round, overnight leader and Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim slipped to a 73 and was in a tie for fourth place alongside Asian Tour’s Bae Sang-moon who shot a 70 three strokes off the pace.
Wi-joong, with one win on the domestic circuit this season, banked on his solid iron game to steer clear ahead of the field by firing an eagle, four birdies against two bogeys.
“I did my best today. I struggle a little bit on the front nine but on the back nine, it was getting better.
“It (fog delay) gave me an opportunity to warm up. It felt much better than actually having to tee off in the early morning,” said Wi-joong, who turned professional in 2001. He started his second round at 10:31am today.
Ryder Cup star Poulter, with seven wins in Europe, is enjoying his maiden Korean outing after a steady 66 today.
“To shoot a five under today is good. I am a little disappointed with the two bogeys. I three putted both the holes. I could have been a couple of shots better,” said the 32-year-old Poulter.
“My goal is to play the way I did today. If I can limit my mistakes, then I will be in a good position on Sunday,” he added.
American Kim was unable to sustain his solid opening round performance at the Perry O. Dye-designed course when he carded three birdies against an equal number of bogeys and a double bogey.
“I don’t know what happened today. Everything that I could have done wrong, I did. I can’t remember the time I hit the ball in the water and was out of bounds in the same round. I couldn’t get the putter to work.
“I had no control over my distance. I have to tighten up my driver now. It was not a good round but I still have a chance heading into the weekend rounds,” said Kim.
Leading second round scores
134 - Kim Wi-joong (KOR) 67-67
135 - Kim Dae-sub (KOR) 67-68, Ian Poulter (ENG) 69-66
137 - Anthony Kim (USA) 64-73, Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 67-70
139 - Kim Woo-hyun [A] (KOR) 69-70, Zaw Moe (MYN) 69-70, Hwang In-choon (KOR) 70-69, Hong Soon-sang (KOR) 68-71
140 - Tony Carolan (AUS) 68-72, Song Tae-hoon [A] (KOR) 70-70, Kim Do-hoon Ii (KOR) 72-68, Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 70-70, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 70-70
141 - Jun Tae-hyun (KOR) 70-71, Kim Jong-myung (KOR) 66-75, Neven Basic (AUS) 73-68, Simon Hurd (ENG) 71-70, Cho Hyun-woo [A] (KOR) 71-70, S K Ho (KOR) 70-71, Park Do-kyu (KOR) 72-69
142 - Kang Ji-man (KOR) 71-71, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 70-72, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 68-74, Kang Sung-hoon (KOR) 69-73, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 72-70