CHEONAN — Shin Sang-hun, 28, who returned to the tour after completing his military service, stayed near the top of the leaderboard for a second straight day at the Genesis Championship, a $4 million event co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Korean PGA. He is widening his lead over rivals in the Genesis Points race and appears to be tightening his grip on the title.
Shin carded a 2-under 69 with five birdies and three bogeys in the second round on the 23rd at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, a par-71 course in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. His 36-hole total of 7-under 135 left him three shots behind the lead group.
Starting from the 10th hole in sole second place, one stroke off the lead, Shin stumbled with two bogeys over his first five holes before rallying with three birdies in the next four. He picked up one more shot on his closing nine.
Shin, who was discharged last year and returned this season to win once, at the Golfzon Open in September, leads the Genesis Points standings with 4,807.94 points, narrowly ahead of Jeong Chan-min in second with 4,744.77 and Jang Yu-bin in third with 4,512.08. Winning this week would bring 1,300 points, stretching his margin enough to all but secure his first season points title. Along with a direct spot in the final stage of the U.S. PGA Tour's Q-School, the points title comes with a one-year DP World Tour card, while the winner here earns a two-year DP World Tour card.
U.S. PGA Tour player Kim Si-woo and this year's Open champion Ryan Fox of New Zealand also made moves. Kim shot 2-under with six birdies and four bogeys to reach 6-under and stay in contention. Fox trimmed three strokes to join Kim at 6-under.