Valspar Championship Round 2

Sungjae Im maintained his position at the top of the leaderboard, reaching 9-under par after a gritty 2-under 69. Despite a turbulent front nine that included three bogeys, Im found his rhythm on the back nine with birdies at the 11th and 12th. He broke a late-day deadlock with a clutch 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th, ensuring he enters the weekend with a one-stroke lead. His ability to recover from early errors has positioned him as the man to beat as the course conditions continue to toughen. David Lipsky emerged as the primary challenger, carding a 6-under 65 to move into solo second at 8-under par. Lipsky’s round was a model of precision, featuring four birdies in his first six holes to surge up the standings. Chandler Blanchet and Doug Ghim share third place at 7-under, while Brooks Koepka moved into the top ten with a solid 67. The major storyline of the day was the departure of defending champion Viktor Hovland, who missed the cut after a disappointing 75. The cut fell at 2-over par, trimming the field for what promises to be a high-tension "Moving Day."