Published on September 6, 2024

Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki is impressively setting the pace in the Shinhan Donghae Open after firing an eight-under-par 64 to take the halfway lead on 13-under.

He leads by three from Korean Galam Jeon and Brad Kennedy from Australia, who both fired equally outstanding 65s, and four from Naoyuki Kataoka from Japan and Korean Jaewoong Eom – the joint-first round leader.

Kataoka returned a 67 and Eom a 70, here at Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon – in an event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and Korean Tours.

Filipino Miguel Tabuena, with fellow Tour professional Nick Fung from Malaysia caddying for him, returned his second successive 68 and is in group of players on eight under in joint sixth.

Galam Jeon.

Suzuki, a professional for three years and in pursuit of his first win in the pro game, took to the front in spectacular fashion. He made a birdie on the fourth, eagled the next and then made two more birdies in-a-row, before making three birdies on-the-trot from 11.

He dropped his only shot of the day when he made bogey on 16 before completing one of the finest rounds of his career with a birdie on the last.

“It feels like it’s the first time I played good golf in a while,” said the 24-year-old, whose best ever result came at the Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup in 2022 on home soil, when he tied second as an amateur.

“I just want to continue getting birdies and improving my score. Not conscious of the leaderboard; I’ll just play my own golf.”

Jeon won the Korean PGA Championship this year, for his third win on the Korean PGA Tour, and also crushed the front nine with an eagle and three birdies. Three birdies and a bogey on the homeward half completed two days of great work.

He said: “Yesterday was a struggle as I started in the afternoon, and it was raining a lot. I just tried to think my way around carefully and keep my swing as smooth as possible. That strategy worked well, and I am now in a strong position.”

Miguel Tabuena.

This year the 28-year-old has opened up about how nervous he gets playing in events and how it means he get very little sleep, but his golf was wide awake today.

“The Shinhan Donghae Open is a traditional tournament that everyone wants to win,” he added.

“If I win, I can play on the Asian and Japan Tours, like Guntaek Koh, who won this tournament last year. I think if I win, I’ll do the same thing as Koh”.

Kennedy, a regular on the Japan Tour who turned 50 this year, charged through with a brilliant back nine of five-under-par 31, and was bogey-free all day.

Tabuena was also bogey-free, with two birdies on each nine.

“It was a good round, it was pretty solid tee to green; didn’t get myself into trouble,” said the three-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“The game is in a good spot. It was nice to see some good results the last few events. It is a very important time, it will get busy, so I am happy with where the game is.”

It’s only the second time close-friend Fung has caddied for him, with the duo having worked together at US Open sectional qualifiers this year, when Tabuena came close to making it through.

His normal caddie Clayton Besset could not make it this week as his mother is unwell.

Said Tabuena: “Nick was nice enough to step in for Clayton, who will resume action in Taiwan. This team with Nick is pretty good. He is very firm, and he is very confident with the lies on the greens, which was a big aspect for me the last few months.”

Ryo Ishikawa.

Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, a 19-time winner in Japan including this year’s Japan PGA Championship, returned a 69 and is in a group of players on seven-under, that also includes this year’s Kolon Korea Open champion Minkyu Kim, who shot a 70.

Defending champion Guntaek Koh from Korea fired a 72 and missed the halfway cut, made at three under, by two.

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, who Koh beat in a play-off last year, returned a 69 and will also not be here at the weekend as he finished two under.