Kim kept cool while others went at him to push on from his first-round lead and end the round on 11-under, a shot clear of Australian Ben Eccles.
The 17-year-old notched a 7-under 64 at Millbrook on Thursday and backed that up with a 4-under 68 at The Hills yesterday.
The wind had played havoc on Thursday morning and then came in yesterday afternoon. But the conditions did not seem to hinder Kim, who is making big gains in the game when most of his age are still at school. He is ranked No141 in the world and has already won three tournaments.
Kim has hit only one bogey in each of his two rounds and was deadly accurate yesterday.
He said his ball striking had been key.
“It was tough conditions and not really easy. You’ve got a three-to-four club wind swirling every single time. But I managed myself really well and it was good,” Kim said.
Kim said he was just learning every day and was not getting ahead of himself.
“I have kept the ball in play really well. If you’re not in play then you struggle.
“Yeah, I am in the lead but we are only halfway through. There are so many big names only one, two shots away. And those guys, when it comes to intense moments, they always deliver.”
He had never played in such swirling wind before.
For Eccles, it has been a dream couple of days as he was not even in the tournament 24 hours before it started.
But with some Indian golfers having visa issues, Eccles came in as as an alternative.
He hit a 65 at Millbrook on Thursday and backed that up with a 68 yesterday at The Hills.
Eccles said he was coming to Queenstown for a two-week holiday anyway so it was simply a bonus to get into the tournament. He has certainly made the most of the opportunity.
“Yesterday [Thursday] I played awesome. In those conditions as well it just all came together. This morning I got off to a fast start — eagle, birdie, birdie. It’s awesome.’’
“I just wanted to keep enjoying it, that’s been the main thing for me this week. The last couple of years I haven’t enjoyed it a hell of a lot out in Europe. A bit of a mindset shift in the last few months has been where I think this golf has come from.”
Tied for third are Thai Pavit Tangkamolpraset and Australian Lucas Herbert, who are just two shots behind Kim.
Tangkamolpraset said he had driven the ball well and took the chances when they came along. He scored a 64, 8-under at The Hills, the lowest round of the day.
He was 5-over after five holes on Thursday in the opening round so has made some comeback to get handy to the lead.
Herbert is fresh off a win at the Dubai Desert Classic and is threatening to be in the hunt.
But with 20 players within six shots of the lead it is still wide open going into the weekend.
