Valspar Championship: Im Maintains Lead Amidst Challenging Conditions
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Sungjae Im continues to demonstrate his prowess at the Valspar Championship, maintaining the lead after a challenging Friday afternoon at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course. Im navigated breezy conditions and firm, fast greens, rallying on the back nine to edge ahead of David Lipsky.
Following a return from a wrist injury that saw him miss two consecutive cuts, Im carded a 2-under 69, bringing his total to 9-under 133 – a single stroke ahead of Lipsky. His impressive performance builds on a strong start, where he recorded two eagles in a 64 on Thursday, initially securing a one-shot advantage over Brandt Snedeker.
Im’s Strategy for Success
“The important thing, well, the most important thing is that I can get my drives into the fairways,” the 27-year-old South Korean player explained through a translator. “If I do that, then I will be able to give myself good chances. There’s just a lot of danger out there on the course.”
Friday’s round presented its challenges, with three bogeys and two birdies on the front nine. However, Im responded with birdies on the par-5 11th and par-4 12th, ultimately clinching the lead with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.
“I want to really focus and be patient because I have a chance this weekend,” Im stated, anticipating tougher conditions. “This weekend, I think the winds are going to blow and the greens are going to get more firm.”
Lipsky’s Strong Contention
David Lipsky delivered a stellar performance with a 65, starting the day strong with birdies on the first two and four of the first six holes. He added two more on 10 and 11, finishing with seven consecutive pars. Despite remaining winless on the PGA Tour, Lipsky is a serious contender.
“It was excellent. I did everything well,” Lipsky commented. “Missed it in the right spots, holed the putts early on to get some momentum going. That finishing stretch is obviously tough, so able to save a couple pars down on 16 and 18 and really kept the round going.”
Canadian Performances and Other Notable Players
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent, tied for 10th at 4 under after consecutive rounds of 69. A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., are at 1 over, while Nick Taylor, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, and Adam Hadwin all missed the cut.
Chandler Blanchet and Doug Ghim are both at 7 under, with Ghim acknowledging a slightly imperfect finish despite a strong overall day. Brandt Snedeker, a sponsor exemption recipient and U.S. Presidents Cup captain, sits at 5 under, remaining optimistic despite a challenging afternoon.
Other players in contention include Jordan Smith, Matt Fitzpatrick, Marco Penge, and Alex Smalley, all at 5 under. Brooks Koepka is tied for 10th at 4 under, while defending champion Viktor Hovland unfortunately missed the cut.
You can find more information about the tournament at AP News Golf.
