LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — One hole-out for eagle is a highlight. Two — on back-to-back days, on the same hole — is a headline.
Chan Kim delivered both.
For the second straight round at the ISCO Championship, Kim jarred a shot from off the green on Hurstbourne’s short par-4 fourth. The first was from 123 yards. The second was a low missile from 36 yards that slammed into the flagstick and dropped in Friday’s second round. And just like that, Kim held his five-shot lead, shooting 68 after Thursday’s record-tying 61.
“I think I smoked the flagstick,” Kim said. “There might be a little chip on that flagstick. If it didn’t hit the flagstick, it was probably over the green. … Fortunately, it kind of hit the middle of the flagstick and just dropped in.”
Only 10 other players in PGA history have holed out for eagle on the same hole in the first and second rounds of the tournament. Kim’s second eagle came on No. 4, though it was his 13th hole of the day.
At 11 under par, Kim is the only player in double digits through 36 holes. The 35-year-old veteran is winless in 70 PGA Tour starts but has victories around the world — and the poise to know five shots won’t be enough to coast.
“Just keep my foot down,” Kim said. “These guys are so good, somebody's going to catch up. I already know that. The best I can do is handle myself the way I did when I won all those events and that's just to stay patient and play my game, work on sticking to our game plan.”
Local roots, local memories
Though just one of the five St. Xavier High School alums in the field made the cut, the week has been rich with memories for the homegrown pros.
Stephen Stallings Jr. will play the weekend after rounds of 70 and 71 left him at 1 over — right on the number. Like the other local players, he enjoyed a large and supportive gallery.
“It was awesome, man, to have that much support,” he said. “I just hope I can do it for two more days.”
Drew Doyle, who shot 71 Friday and finished at 3 over, brought some fire — and plenty of familiar faces.
“I look around on pretty much every hole, and I see a decent-sized crowd following me — and I know everybody in it,” Doyle said. “I know the voices from the cheers. I know exactly who’s rooting for me.”
His older brother Brendon, who carded a 72 and missed the cut at +5, still came away with a strong sense of the moment.
“Obviously we wanted to play well, compete and try to win, but, you know, it's just fun to have everybody out there, the support system,” he said. “You know, not many people have a chance to do this. I mean, we lived, our parents lived in the neighborhood, so it's pretty nice.”
Cooper Musselman, another St. X product, birdied two of his last five holes to shoot an even-par 71 and finish at +4.
“I had a lot of friends and family out here, and that was super exciting, super special,” Musselman said. “I loved hearing everyone say, ‘Go Coop.’ That was cool. Those are memories I'll always have.”
Vince Whaley, a Lexington native, has shot three under in each of the first two rounds and is tied for fifth heading into the weekend.
Kentucky native J.B. Holmes missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 72. He played on a sponsor exemption.
Who's chasing Kim?
Tied for second at 6 under are Germany’s Thomas Rosenmueller, Norway’s Kris Ventura, and American Vince Whaley. None could match Kim’s fireworks, but all stayed in the hunt on a day when the course firmed up and scoring became more difficult.
“It was pretty tough,” Rosenmueller said. “I think 13 of the first 15 holes, I was just trying to make par. You cannot just blindly go at everything. You kind of have to think your way around.”
Kevin Kisner, the NBC analyst and four-time PGA Tour winner, is tied for fifth at 5 under after a 69. He’ll enter the weekend just six back — and not just playing for fun.
“Basically the only thing that can help my life is to win,” Kisner said. “So put it all on the line here the next couple days.”
Also in that group: Beau Hossler, who dropped three shots late, and Marcus Byrd, who’s ready to chase.
“Whatever I can try to do to make some birdies and make up some ground,” Byrd said. “I’m just excited to be here on the weekend.”
The winner this week earns a two-year PGA Tour exemption and a spot in next year’s PGA Championship — but not a ticket to next week’s Open Championship. No one in the field is headed to Royal Portrush. Last year’s ISCO winner, Harry Hall, did qualify for The Open and is competing at the Genesis Scottish Open.
Coming Saturday
Louisville’s Hurstbourne Country Club has stood up to the pressure — and the weather. Now it’s moving day. Chan Kim holds the lead, but with firm greens, rising heat and a chasing pack that includes veterans and first-time hopefuls, Saturday could shift the story.
MORE ON THE ISCO CHAMPIONSHIP:
NBC's Kevin Kisner talks a good game, and is playing one at Hurstbourne
Meet the Mystery Man who torched Hursrboure for a course-record 61
ISCO Championship | How to watch, tickets, parking info and more
The PGA came to Hurstbourne, but history got there first
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