Taehoon OK, the number one ranked player on the Korean PGA Tour, took a share of the clubhouse lead today at the Shinhan Donghae Open – saying mental strength has been at the heart of his return to form.

The Korean shot a second-round seven-under-par 65, the best round of the week so far, here at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon to reach eight-under-par – along with Japan’s Ryutaro Nagano and Taiki Yoshida.

Nagano shot a 67 and Yoshida a 68, to move in front halfway through day two in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean, and Japan Tours.

Korean Younghan Song is one behind, following a 69, while Thailand’s Danthai Boonma, the joint first-round leader, is another stroke back in a group of players after a 71.

Three years ago OK hit the bigtime with the biggest win of his career by claiming the inaugural International Series Korea on Jeju Island.

Taehoon OK.

However, more success did not materialise, until this year. He’s won twice in Korea and had five other top-fives. On the Asian Tour he has not featured much but that looks set to change this week.

“This year, I think my mentality has been great, so that’s been my strength,” he said, following a round built on an eagle and five birdies.

“Actually, I did a great job with my putter and short game today, and I had some good par saves.”

His eagle came on the par-five seventh.

“It felt great,” he said of the eagle. “The second shot was like 230 metres away with a bit of tail wind. My second shot was perfect, and I made a great putt.”

After the sunshine on the opening day, the weather closed in today with grey skies expected to be followed by poorer weather over the weekend.

Added Ok: “I know that it’s gonna rain until 10 in the morning tomorrow, and as you know this course is very tough. I think I have to be really calm, and try to create opportunities for myself. I believe that I’m gonna make a great result.”

Younghan Song.

Song, who is a member of both the Korean and Japan Tours, has surprisingly yet to win on home soil since turning professional 12 years ago.

He’s best-known for his victory in the Singapore Open in 2016, when he defeated American Jordan Spieth, who at the time was ranked number one in the world, by one shot following a Monday finish. He is a two winner in Japan having claimed the Sansan KBC Augusta in 2023, while the Singapore Open was joint sanctioned with Japan when he won.

Despite his lack of titles in Korea he has been a regular contender as looks like being the case this week.

He said: “Actually, I’m not really happy about my performance today, but definitely I want to win this tournament. I think some of my putts were not great, but I think I finished quite well so I should be well prepared for the next round.

“You know, this course is very challenging, especially with the wind and the rain. I think the conditions will be very difficult over the next few days.”