Mikko Korhonen took an unconventional route to a 68 as he moved into the solo lead heading into the weekend at the KLM Open.
The Finn made a hole-in-one en route to a share of the lead on day one and added every score from two to seven in round two to move to ten under.
That left him one shot clear of American Sean Crocker, who carded a 67, and two ahead of English duo Ross Fisher and James Morrison.
Korhonen is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, but his appearance at last month’s Soudal Open was his first in 12 months, and this is just the third event of his comeback from a spell out.
A holed nine iron from 137 yards was the highlight of a second round that also contained six birdies, two bogeys, and a triple, and the 43-year-old was happy to be back on Tour.
Mikko Korhonen: “I had a little adventure in the long stuff and then I holed a nine iron so lots of things happened.”
“I didn’t really expect anything. It’s just my third event coming out of a year’s medical so not much expectation but I’m happy to be here and happy to play well.”
“When you get relaxed and you’re in the moment you don’t see anything else. The golf course is nice, I like it. It’s rewarding good drives.”
“There’s a couple of blind shots so you have to really commit to the tee-shots. It’s linksy but it’s not running that fast yet.”
Dane Rasmus Højgaard matched the lowest round of the day with a 65 to sit at seven under alongside England’s Matthew Baldwin, Scot Ewen Ferguson, American Nicolo Galletti, Italian Matteo Manassero, and German Matti Schmid.
A Rollercoaster Round for Korhonen
Korhonen’s second round was nothing short of a rollercoaster. From the brilliance of a hole-in-one to the frustration of a triple bogey, he experienced the full spectrum of golf in a single day.
His ace came at the par-3 8th hole, where a perfect nine iron from 137 yards found the bottom of the cup.
This spectacular shot was complemented by six birdies, showcasing his skill and composure under pressure.
However, golf’s unpredictable nature reared its head with two bogeys and a triple bogey, proving that even the best can have their challenges.
Despite these setbacks, Korhonen managed to maintain his lead, demonstrating resilience and a calm demeanour.
Close Contenders
Sean Crocker, just one shot behind Korhonen, put together an impressive 67 to keep himself firmly in contention.
The American’s round was marked by consistent play and a steady hand, ensuring he remains a serious threat as the tournament progresses.
Not far behind, Englishmen Ross Fisher and James Morrison are both at eight under, just two shots off the lead.
Fisher, known for his steady play, and Morrison, with his aggressive approach, are both well within striking distance and poised to challenge over the weekend.
The Comeback Trail
Korhonen’s journey back to competitive golf has been marked by determination and perseverance.
After a 12-month hiatus, his return at the Soudal Open signalled his readiness to compete at the highest level once again.
The KLM Open marks only his third event since his return, but his performance thus far indicates that he is quickly regaining his form.
“I’ve missed the competition and the camaraderie out here,” Korhonen remarked. “It’s great to be back, and to be leading is a fantastic feeling.”
The Field in Pursuit
As the weekend approaches, a host of talented players are poised to make their move.
Rasmus Højgaard’s 65 was a standout performance, placing him just three shots back at seven under.
Højgaard’s aggressive style and ability to go low could make him a significant factor in the closing rounds.
Joining him at seven under are Matthew Baldwin, Ewen Ferguson, Nicolo Galletti, Matteo Manassero, and Matti Schmid.
Each of these players has shown flashes of brilliance and will be looking to capitalise on any opportunities that arise over the weekend.
Anticipation Builds
With Korhonen holding a narrow lead and a tightly packed leaderboard, the stage is set for an exciting weekend at the KLM Open.
Fans can expect high drama and thrilling golf as the field battles it out for the title. Korhonen’s mix of precision and resilience will be tested by the chasing pack, making for a captivating finish in Amsterdam.
As the KLM Open continues, all eyes will be on Korhonen to see if he can maintain his lead and secure his third DP World Tour victory.
Regardless of the outcome, his remarkable comeback story and the intense competition promise to deliver a memorable tournament.
Round two scores
132 M KORHONEN (FIN) 64 68,
133 S CROCKER (USA) 66 67,
134 R FISHER (ENG) 67 67, J MORRISON (ENG) 66 68,
135 M MANASSERO (ITA) 64 71, R H?JGAARD (DEN) 70 65, M SCHMID (GER) 68 67, E FERGUSON (SCO) 69 66, M BALDWIN (ENG) 68 67, N GALLETTI (USA) 69 66,
136 M WALLACE (ENG) 70 66, E MOLINARI (ITA) 66 70, J VEERMAN (USA) 71 65, T AIKEN (RSA) 69 67, F CELLI (ITA) 67 69, M KINHULT (SWE) 68 68, H NORLANDER (SWE) 66 70, M ELVIRA (ESP) 70 66, E KOFSTAD (NOR) 67 69, M SCHNEIDER (GER) 69 67, J DEAN (ENG) 70 66, F LAPORTA (ITA) 68 68,
137 G MIGLIOZZI (ITA) 68 69, B WIESBERGER (AUT) 70 67, L CANTER (ENG) 68 69,
138 J PRINSLOO (RSA) 71 67, R HOSHINO (JPN) 65 73, J LUITEN (NED) 68 70, A PAVAN (ITA) 68 70, J SCHAPER (RSA) 69 69,
139 T POWER HORAN (AUS) 73 66, R MANSELL (ENG) 71 68, W DE VRIES (NED) 70 69, T MCKIBBIN (NIR) 69 70, S FRIEDRICHSEN (DEN) 73 66, E PEPPERELL (ENG) 69 70, K BROBERG (SWE) 72 67, P WARING (ENG) 70 69, T VAILLANT (FRA) 70 69,
140 N COLSAERTS (BEL) 72 68, L VAN MEIJEL (NED) 71 69, R WILLIAMS (RSA) 69 71, A HIDALGO (ESP) 69 71, G WIEBE (USA) 70 70, D RAVETTO (FRA) 71 69, C JARVIS (RSA) 69 71, A DEL REY (ESP) 69 71, L VAN DER VIGHT (AM) (NED) 71 69,
141 A FITZPATRICK (ENG) 68 73, S GARCIA (ESP) 72 69, T LEWIS (ENG) 72 69, N NORGAARD (DEN) 72 69, C SHINKWIN (ENG) 67 74, O STRYDOM (RSA) 70 71, Z LOMBARD (RSA) 68 73, A OTAEGUI (ESP) 69 72, D FICHARDT (RSA) 69 72, M LORENZO-VERA (FRA) 70 71, J DE BRUYN (GER) 69 72, J GIRRBACH (SUI) 72 69, F KENNEDY (ENG) 69 72, A AYORA (ESP) 69 72,
142 M ROTTLUFF (GER) 73 69, R RAMSAY (SCO) 72 70, G GREEN (MAS) 69 73, R CABRERA BELLO (ESP) 72 70, B RUSCH (SUI) 70 72, A MARTIN (AUS) 71 71, D HUIZING (NED) 72 70, D WILLETT (ENG) 72 70, S MANLEY (WAL) 73 69, W BESSELING (NED) 72 70, S SHARMA (IND) 70 72, A GARCIA-HEREDIA (ESP) 73 69,
143 D VAN DRIEL (NED) 72 71, D BRADBURY (ENG) 73 70, I CANTERO (ESP) 71 72, J BERRY (ENG) 74 69, A WILSON (ENG) 71 72, F SCHOTT (GER) 70 73, K VAN DER WEELE (NED) 73 70, J AXELSEN (DEN) 75 68, V VAN VEEN (NED) 69 74, J DAVIDSON (WAL) 72 71, J BLIXT (SWE) 69 74, B STONE (RSA) 72 71, R NEERGAARD-PETERSEN (DEN) 74 69, L SCALISE (ITA) 69 74, J FAHRBRING (SWE) 71 72,
144 D FRITTELLI (RSA) 73 71, L LIST (USA) 69 75, D WHITNELL (ENG) 72 72, N VON DELLINGSHAUSEN (GER) 72 72, M BESARD (BEL) 69 75, W ENEFER (ENG) 72 72, L KEUNEN (NED) 71 73, M KIEFFER (GER) 76 68, M SCHWAB (AUT) 74 70, J GUMBERG (USA) 76 68, H LI (CHN) 73 71, H BARRON (AUS) 75 69,
145 A JOHNSTON (ENG) 72 73, K APHIBARNRAT (THA) 72 73, A ARNAUS (ESP) 72 73, P LARRAZ?BAL (ESP) 73 72, J DONALDSON (WAL) 72 73, T KANAYA (JPN) 74 71, J DANTORP (SWE) 72 73,
146 M TOOROP (NED) 76 70, L DE JAGER (RSA) 77 69, A WU (CHN) 73 73, J KO (FRA) 76 70, D GAVINS (ENG) 74 72, P FIGUEIREDO (POR) 76 70, G HURLEY (IRL) 73 73, R LANGASQUE (FRA) 73 73, L RUUSKA (FIN) 76 70, G FDEZ-CASTA?O (ESP) 68 78,
147 S TARRIO (ESP) 73 74, G PORTEOUS (ENG) 76 71, P MOOLMAN (RSA) 77 70, L KLEIN (AM) (CZE) 70 77, J NICHOLAS (USA) 81 66, A ROZNER (FRA) 72 75, T CLEMENTS (ENG) 72 75, J KRUYSWIJK (RSA) 76 71,
148 A ETCHENIQUE (FRA) 76 72, M KAWAMURA (JPN) 72 76, D BROWN (ENG) 79 69, S BROHOLT LIND (DEN) 77 71, C SORDET (FRA) 76 72,
149 C HANNA (USA) 79 70, J HARDING (RSA) 73 76, A VERDONK (NED) 73 76, Y KATSURAGAWA (JPN) 75 74, O BEKKER (RSA) 70 79,
150 N BACHEM (GER) 70 80, J G?TH-RASMUSSEN (DEN) 82 68, S GALLACHER (SCO) 74 76, B REUTER (AM) (NED) 74 76, D MOSTERT (RSA) 76 74, K JOHANNESSEN (NOR) 72 78,
151 J INGHAM (AM) (NED) 75 76,
152 J WINTHER (DEN) 80 72,
153 M ARMITAGE (ENG) 77 76,
155 R GOUVEIA (POR) 82 73, R ENOCH (WAL) 81 74, I GROENENDIJK (AM) (NED) 77 78,
157 D MICHELUZZI (AUS) 81 76,
158 O CHOUHAN (IND) 83 75,
160 S JONES (NZL) 83 77,
**
OUT F LACROIX (FRA) 77 RT, M SOUTHGATE (ENG) 70 RT, H LONG (GER) 77 RT, R PARATORE (ITA) 81 WD, S S?DERBERG (SWE) RT ,
