Im Sung-jae "7th Place with Tenacity"... Steele Leads

Sony Open Day 3: Steel Leads by 3 Shots at 3 Under Par, Smith in 2nd Place

Im Sung-jae is teeing off at the 1st hole on the third day of the Sony Open. Honolulu (Hawaii, USA) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "1 under par, 2 under par, 3 under par."

It is the perseverance of Im Sung-jae (22, CJ Logistics), the 'PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.' On the 12th (Korean time), at the Waialae Golf Club in Honolulu, Hawaii (par 70, 7,044 yards), during the third day of the PGA Tour Sony Open (total prize money $6.6 million), he added 3 under par to rise to a tie for 7th place (6 under par, 204 strokes). Brendon Steele (USA) took the lead by 3 strokes (12 under par, 198 strokes), with Cameron Smith (Australia) chasing in second place (9 under par, 201 strokes).

Starting from a tie for 17th place, 3 strokes behind, Im Sung-jae recorded 5 birdies and 2 bogeys. Although he missed the green and made a bogey on the first hole, the 1st hole (par 4), he changed the momentum with a birdie on the 3rd hole (par 4), then rode the upswing with birdies on the 8th, 12th, and 16th holes. The late bogey on the 17th hole (par 3) was recovered with a birdie on the 18th hole (par 5). It is encouraging that his putting is improving as the rounds progress. His average putts per hole were 1.92 in the first round, 1.86 in the second round, and he operated a 'stingy putting' with 1.64 putts today.

He is 6 strokes behind the leader, in a position where a comeback victory is possible. Steele's performance is formidable. Leading with a 6 under par daily best, he is approaching his 4th career win after 2 years and 3 months since the Safeway Open in October 2017. Kevin Kisner (USA) is in 3rd place (8 under par, 202 strokes), and Webb Simpson and Collin Morikawa (both USA) are tied for 4th place (7 under par, 203 strokes), watching for their opportunity. Two-time champion Brendon Todd (USA) remained tied for 23rd place (3 under par, 207 strokes).

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