Sungjae Im carded five birdies and three bogeys to close with a 2-under 69 and retain the Valspar Championship lead by one stroke at 9-under.

He holds the 36-hole lead/co-lead for the fifth time on the PGA Tour (most recent: 2021 Shriners Children’s Open/Won) and is 1-for-4 in converting to victory.

Im is making his third start on Tour this season after suffering from a wrist injury in January (MC/Arnold Palmer Invitationa, MC/The Players Championship). He has won twice on Tour in 211 career starts (2020 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, 2021 Shriners Children’s Open).

“I didn’t think my tee shots were very good,” said the South Korean. “I wasn’t able to hold the fairways, so I left myself some difficult second shots. For these past two days I think I’ve taken the chances I can get, so I think it will be really great if I can keep that going into the weekend.

“It’s been my first made cut in the past two, three weeks. It’s really great that I’m in this leading position. I want to really focus and be patient, because I have a chance this weekend.

“I think the winds are going to blow and the greens are going to get more firm. The most important thing is that I can get my drives into the fairways. If I do that, then I will be able to give myself good chances. There’s just a lot of danger out there on the course, so I want to be thinking about those things carefully and have good course management.”

David Lipsky signed for a bogey-free 65 to move into second place at 8-under. The American is making his 145th Tour start in search of his first victory. His best finish so far was runner-up at the 2024 Procore Championship. He has made four cuts in five starts this season with 15 of 16 rounds par-or-better.

American Doug Ghim eagled the par-5 11th and made four birdies and two bogeys for a 67 and a share of third place at 7-under alongside compatriot Chandler Blanchet who made a single bogey for a 66.

Ghim seeks his first title in his 178th start. His best finish was second at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open.

PGA Tour rookie Chandler Blanchet of the United States finished runner-up in his sixth and most recent start this season at the Puerto Rico Open, after missing the cut in his first five starts. He won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025.

Englishmen Marco Penge, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jordan Smith are tied in fifth place at 5-under alongside Americans Alex Smalley and Brandt Snedeker.

Brooks Koepka of the USA posted a back nine 4-under 31 en route to a second-round 67 and lies in T10 at 4-under. He finished T9 and T13 in his last two starts in Florida.

Valspar Championship defending champion Viktor Hovland of Norway missed the cut for the first time on Tour since the 2025 Players Championship.

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