"Caltley and Shopley 'Perfect Match' Leading for Two Days... Im Sungjae and An Byeonghun Joint 16th 'Smooth Sailing'"

'2-Person Team Battle' Zurich Classic Day 2: Lipsky and Rye at 4 Under Par, 2nd Place 'Chasing'

Patrick Cantlay (right) and Xander Schauffele are preparing to putt on the 9th hole during the second day of the Zurich Classic '2-man team battle.' Avondale, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Perfect Match’.

‘Playoff (PO) Champ’ Patrick Cantlay and ‘Tokyo Olympics Gold’ Xander Schauffele remain at the top. On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Avondale Louisiana Golf Club (Par 72, 7,425 yards) in Louisiana, USA, during the second day of the PGA Tour’s ‘2-man team battle’ Zurich Classic (total prize money $8.3 million), they added 4 under par to firmly hold the top of the leaderboard (17 under par, 127 strokes). The 1st and 3rd rounds are four-ball (each player plays their own ball and the better score counts), and the 2nd and 4th rounds are foursomes (two players alternate playing one ball).

The two players combined 5 birdies and 1 bogey. They gained momentum with consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11, and although Cantlay made a tee shot mistake resulting in a bogey on hole 12 (par 4), they immediately recovered with a birdie on hole 13 (par 4). They also made ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 2 and 4 in the back nine. On the first day’s foursomes, they showed incredible power with 13 under par 59, and their teamwork covering each other stood out on this day’s foursomes as well. Cantlay, in particular, has finished runner-up twice this season and is desperate for a win.

David Lipsky (USA) and Aaron Rai (England) are tied for 2nd place (16 under par, 128 strokes). South African duo Brandon Grace and Garrick Higgo surged with 7 under par to jump to a tie for 4th place (15 under par, 129 strokes). Defending champions Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman (both Australia) are tied for 8th place (11 under par, 133 strokes), pushing forward for a ‘second consecutive victory’. Matthew NeSmith and Taylor Moore, who were 2nd the previous day, lost one stroke and dropped to a tie for 8th place.

Im Sung-jae (left) and An Byeong-hoon are examining the putting line on the 18th hole during the second day of the Zurich Classic 'two-person team battle.' Avondale, USA=Getty Images/Multivitz

Korea’s Im Sung-jae (24) and An Byeong-hun (30, both CJ Logistics) are cruising at a tie for 16th place (10 under par, 134 strokes). ‘Number 2’ Collin Morikawa (USA) and Viktor Hovland (Norway) are tied for 22nd place (9 under par, 135 strokes), while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Ryan Palmer (both USA) are tied for 29th place (8 under par, 136 strokes). No Seung-yeol (32) and Michael Kim (USA), Bae Sang-moon (36) and Danny Lee (New Zealand), Kang Sung-hoon (35) and John Huh (USA) were all ‘cut off’.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.