English teenager Kris Kim became the youngest player to make the cut on the PGA Tour in 11 years after a birdie at the last saw him get through to the weekend of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas with a shot to spare.
Kim, the son of former LPGA player Ji-Hyun Suh, carded a second-round four-under-par 67, which included a run of five birdies and one bogey over his front nine.
At 16 years and seven months he became the youngest player to make the cut on tour since 14-year-old Guan Tianlang at the 2013 Masters, and, according to the PGA Tour, the fifth youngest in history.
-5 in the past 8 holes for the 16-year-old!
Kris Kim is looking to become the youngest player to make a PGA TOUR cut since Guan Tianlang (age 14) in 2013. pic.twitter.com/g3gF2DcEKG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 3, 2024
“I’m happy. I can’t wait to get started again tomorrow,” said Kim, a junior member at Walton Heath in Surrey, whose seven-under total left him tied for 36th.
“I’ve enjoyed it so much the last couple days and being here two more days makes it so much sweeter.”
Of his final-hole birdie, he said: “To be honest it being a par five it’s pretty helpful but yeah, there is always going to be nerves when you’re on the cut line.”
Kim’s compatriot Matt Wallace lost his overnight lead despite a second-round 66 – the highlight being an eagle after driving the 324-yard par-four 14th – moving him to 13 under.
Former nightclub bouncer Jake Knapp assumed top spot a stroke ahead after eight birdies in a round of 64.
Texas native Jordan Spieth, the highest-ranked player in the field as world number 20, missed his fourth cut in six tournaments after a one-over 70 left him at four under.