Tireless Tom Kim relentless in Travelers title quest as Séamus Power faces uphill battle

Playing his eighth event in a row, the South Korean (22) added a five-under 65 to his opening 62 to lead by two shots in the clubhouse from Collin Morikawa and Akshay Bhatia on 13-under.

“I think this stretch is making me more sharper and more ready and I think it’s kind of time to show,” Kim said at TPC River Highlands.

Séamus Power had a tougher day at the office, carding a 70 to slip ten shots behind Kim on three-under.

Kim has already qualified for The Open after finishing as joint runner-up behind Brian Harman last year.

But Holywood’s Tom McKibbin is still chasing his place at Royal Troon and has his work cut out to win one of two spots on offer in this week’s KLM Open after a one-under 70 left him tied for 31st on three-under.

He was seven shots behind Finland’s Mikko Korhonen, who made an ace in a three-under 68 for a one-shot lead over American Sean Crocker on 10-under at The International in Amsterdam.

Gary Hurley, meanwhile, missed the level-par cut by four shots after making a triple-bogey eight at his 17th hole and a bogey at the last in a 73.

In the KPMG Women’s PGA at Sahalee in Washington, Sarah Schmelzel shot a five-under 67 to lead by two shots in the clubhouse from Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and overnight leader Lexi Thompson and Jin Young Ko on six-under.

On the PGA Tour Champions, Pádraig Harrington birdied two of his last three holes to card a four-under 68 and trail Stephen Ames by four shots in the Dick’s Open in New York. Bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the event, he made seven birdies in his warm-up for next week’s US Senior Open as Darren Clarke shot 73.

Meanwhile, Gary Murphy carded a joint best of the day, four-under 68 to go into the final round four shots behind leader Paul Lawrie in the IFX Legends at Seapoint. Lawrie shot 70 to lead by two shots with Murphy tied for fourth with Simon Khan and Peter Baker.

It was also a good day for Dermot McElroy in the Challenge Tour’s Blot Open in Brittany where he made an eagle and eight birdies in a seven-under 63 to share 26th place with Ruaidhri McGee, who shot 70, on three-under.

They’re still ten shots behind leader Bjorn Akesson of Sweden with Ronan Mullarney and Alex Maguire a shot further back after rounds of 66 and 69.

In the Amateur Championship, England’s Dominic Clemons will face Dane Jacob Skov Olesen in the 36-hole final at Ballyliffin today (8.31am).

KLM Open, noon Travelers Championship, 4.30pm Women’s PGA, 7.45pm (All live on Sky Sports)