Home favorite Byeong Hun An posted a 66 on Friday and will enter the weekend holding a two-shot advantage at the Genesis Championship.
The Korean finished his second day at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea with just two bogeys offset by eight birdies, including three in his first four holes, to reach 11 under.
“I feel like I made a lot of putts of ten-footers, 15-footers so I think that helps for making birdies,” An said. “They weren’t the easiest of putts, but I’ve rolled in some nice putts in the last two days.
“I love to see the fans out here cheer for me. It doesn’t matter whether things go well for me or not, they are still there.
“Coming into this week I really didn’t have any expectations, I just always try my best. I really do like this home support. Hopefully there will be more people this weekend and I can feed off from them.
“It would be nice to hold the trophy at the end of the day but I haven’t been here for the last five years – six years in a tournament – so all I’m trying to do is show some good golf because they don’t see much of me, so I’ll try my best and see what happens.”
South African Casey Jarvis (68) and Italian Francesco Laporta (65) were joint-second on 9 under.
Jarvis mixed seven birdies with three bogeys while Laporta signed for a one-bogey scorecard that featured eight birdies, highlighted by a hat trick on Nos. 2-4.
Spaniard Ivan Cantero (70), the overnight leader, was among four players one further back on 8 under, one clear of a trio at 7 under which included Korean star Tom Kim (69).
2024 Genesis Championship
Top 10 Leaders: Round 2
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Byeong Hun An -11 (-6)
2. Francesco Laporta -9 (-7)
2. Casey Jarvis -9 (-4)
4. Ricardo Gouveia -8 (-5)
4. Johannes Veerman -8 (-5)
4. Rikuya Hoshino -8 (-5)
4. Ivan Cantero -8 (-2)
8. Matthew Southgate -7 (-5)
8. Tom Kim -7 (-3)
8. Alejandro Del Rey -7 (-3)
European tour communications press release and email used to compile recap.
