Jang Yu-bin takes solo lead at KPGA Classic after LIV Golf return

Jang Yu-bin, back on the KPGA Tour after a stint with LIV Golf, moved into sole first place at the KPGA Classic with Aimvita, which carries a purse of 700 million won (approximately $458,000).

Playing the second round Friday at the Northwest Course of Cypress Golf & Resort in Seogwipo, Jeju Island — a par-72 layout — Jang carded six birdies for 12 points, lifting his two-round total to 27 points. That left him one point clear of the joint second-place pairing of Park Jeong-hun and Park Eun-sin, both on 26 points.

Starting on the 10th hole, Jang opened with a birdie on No. 11 and followed with consecutive birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 to bank six points. He then strung together a run of pars before adding three more birdies on the back nine, including a 1.7-meter conversion on the par-5 fifth hole and a 1-meter birdie on the par-5 eighth.

The tournament uses a modified Stableford format: a par earns zero points, a birdie two, an eagle five and an albatross eight, while a bogey costs one point and a double bogey or worse costs three. The format rewards aggressive play.

Jang became the first Korean player to join LIV Golf last year, but a left-thumb injury hampered his performance and he was relegated, returning to the KPGA Tour this season. He has yet to win since coming back; his best result has been a share of runner-up honors at the Woori Financial Championship. A victory would be his first since the Baeksong Holdings Asiad CC Busan Open in October 2024 — a gap of one year and eight months.

"My putting touch was good both yesterday and today, so I was able to convert the chances that came my way," Jang said after his round. "I tend to make a lot of birdies, so the modified Stableford format suits my game. I have good memories of finishing runner-up at this tournament two years ago, and I plan to stay focused through the remaining rounds and go after the win."

Park Eun-sin, who had led after the opening round Thursday, managed only three birdies against one bogey for a net three points and slipped into a share of second. Park Jeong-hun, by contrast, surged up the leaderboard with six birdies and one bogey for 11 points, vaulting straight into the joint second-place tie.

Song Min-hyeok, winner of the GS Caltex MK Open, fired eight birdies against one bogey for 15 points and sits alone in fourth at 24 points through two rounds. Season-opener champion Choi Chan added 13 points — one eagle, five birdies and two bogeys — to move into sole fifth at 23 points.

Defending champion Bae Yong-jun earned 10 points to reach a two-round total of 12, climbing from a share of 76th after Thursday's round to a share of 40th and safely making the cut.