Korean-American Justin Seo, 26, has taken a one-stroke lead at the JoJo Championship ($8.5 million purse), a PGA Tour event being played in Japan.
Justin Seo carded five birdies and two bogeys on the third day of play at the par-70 Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan, for a nine-under-par 201 total and a one-stroke lead over second-place finishers Bo Hosler and Eric Cole (USA). Justin Suh, Bo Hoesler and Eric Cole are the only players in the championship group who have yet to win a PGA Tour event.
Justin Suh, who had three birdies in the first round, overcame a bogey on No. 10 with a birdie on No. 13 and then sank a long birdie putt of more than 10 meters on the par-3 16th to take a two-stroke lead. Justin Seo sent his tee shot, second and third shots into the rough on the 17th (par-4), but was able to get his fifth shot from the fairway into the hole for bogey and a one-stroke lead.
Justin Seo is an elite golfer who was ranked No. 1 in the world as an amateur and was named Player of the Year last year after winning the season finale on the second-tier Confederation Tour. In his rookie season, Suh has yet to win this year, but has two top-10s and six top-25s, with his best finish being a tie for fifth at the Honda Classic. He is 81st in the FedExCup standings and needs to win this event to qualify for next year’s big-money signature event.
Colin Morikawa (USA), who led after the first day, slipped to 3-over in the second round, but fired a 4-under 66 on the moving day to sit in a tie for fourth place with a 7-under 203 total. Morikawa, who battled Justin Seo for top honors in college, has a chance to win the title two years and three months after winning the 2021 Open.
Seongjae Lim (KOR) traded birdies for three bogeys to finish at 2-under-par 208 and sit in a tie for 12th alongside French Open winner Ryo Hisatsune (JPN).
Two-time DP World Tour winner Lee Minwoo (AUS) carded a 3-under 67 with an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys to move into a tie for 18th place with a 1-under 209 total. 토스카지노 도메인
Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Xander Schauffele (USA) struggled with a 5-over 75 and dropped to a tie for 31st with Rickie Fowler (USA) at 1-under par 211.
Song Young-han and Kim Sung-hyun are tied for 43rd at 3-over-par 213. Lee lost two strokes to finish in a tie for 62nd place at 6-over par 216.