Former LIV Golf player Yubin Jang stayed firmly in contention for his first GS Caltex Maekyung Open crown after carding a second-round 69 to join a four-way tie for the lead at Namseoul Country Club.
SEOUL: South Korean rising star Yubin Jang moved a step closer to a breakthrough victory at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open after carding a two-under-par 69 on Friday to claim a share of the halfway lead at Namseoul Country Club.
The 23-year-old, regarded as one of Korean golf’s brightest talents, sits at six-under-par alongside compatriots Mingyu Cho, Sanghun Shin and two-time champion Taehee Lee in a tightly packed leaderboard, with only eight shots separating the leaders from the cut line.
Cho and Shin both returned rounds of 70, while Lee signed for a 71 as the quartet headed into the weekend tied at the top.
A group of eight players are just one shot behind on five-under, including New Zealand’s Nick Voke, who fired a superb 66, as well as Korean duo Minkyu Kim, a two-time Korea Open champion, and PGA Tour player Seonghyeon Kim.
Jang, who competed for Iron Heads GC in the LIV Golf League last season, said the experience gained on the global circuit has helped elevate his game.
“Having played on LIV Golf across a variety of courses and conditions, I found it relatively easy to adapt to the windy conditions today,” said Jang.
“That experience has been a great help. Even in situations where I might normally take a more aggressive club, I’m now trying to play more steadily. I do feel that I’ve grown as a player.”
Jang enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, topping the Korean Tour Order of Merit and earning Player of the Year honours, achievements that helped secure his LIV Golf opportunity.
He was also part of South Korea’s gold medal-winning team at the Asian Games in 2023.
“Since my days on the national team, the tournaments I’ve most wanted to win are the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the Kolon Korea Open,” he said.
“I was in contention in both 2023 and 2024, but it was disappointing not to win. Those missed opportunities have stayed with me, so I’ll do my best to play without any regrets.”
Meanwhile, Voke surged into contention after making six birdies in a bogey-light round of 66.
“We were feeding off each other,” said Voke after playing alongside Cho and Frenchman Julien Sale, who also carded a 66.
“Very pleased with the round. Challenging golf course, but challenging conditions as well. This wind is tricky, it’s strong, it’s coming from all sorts of directions.”
Defending champion Doyeob Mun also made a strong move with a 66, bouncing back from an opening 72 to sit at four-under-par heading into the weekend.
