Veteran South Korean K.J. Choi delighted home crowds at the CJ Invitational on Friday, hitting eight birdies to join Chinnarat Phadungsil at the top of the leaderboard before darkness halted play early. Choi, the tournament host, started his second round five shots behind overnight leader Ryan Yip of Canada but hit four birdies in his first six holes and made the turn in 32, holing another four birdies before the light dwindled. “When I got my first birdie on the opening hole, the confidence started coming back and I had this feeling that I was going to do very well today,” said Choi, 42, who is on 10-under par after 14 holes of his second round. A round of 64 from 23-year-old Chinnarat, including eight birdies, gave him the clubhouse lead, putting him in a strong position to end his three-year title drought with a two-day total of 10-under-par 132.
Leading completed scores after round two: 132 – Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA) 68-64, 135 – Lee Sung (KOR) 67-68, Ryan Yip (CAN) 64-71, 136 – Kim Dae-Hyun (KOR) 71-65, 137 – Lee Kyoung-Hoon (KOR) 69-68, Charlie Wi (KOR) 67-70, Selected scores, K.J. Choi (KOR) -10 through 14 holes, Ben Curtis (USA) -6 through 14 holes
