Sungjae Im takes lead into the weekend on the firm and fast Copperhead course
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Sungjae Im held onto the lead Friday afternoon in the Valspar Championship, rallying on the back nine to edge ahead of David Lipsky in firm and fast conditions on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook. After missing two straight cuts in his return from a wrist injury, Im shot a 2-under 69 to get to 9-under 133 — a stroke ahead of Lipsky.
On Thursday morning, Im had two eagles in a 64 for a one-shot advantage over Brandt Snedeker. On Friday, Im had three bogeys and two birdies in a front-nine 37, then birdied the par-5 11th and par-4 12th. He broke a tie for the lead with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.
The 27-year-old South Korean player has two PGA Tour victories, the 2020 Honda Classic and 2021 Shriners Children’s Open. Lipsky had a 65, playing in the first group of the day off the first tee. Winless on PGA Tour, he birdied the first two holes and four of the the first six, added two more on 10 and 11 and parred the final seven.
“It was excellent. I did everything well,” Lipsky said. “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. ” Chandler Blanchet and Doug Ghim were 7 under. Blanchet closed with a bogey for a 66.