England's Kim, 16, youngest to make PGA Tour cut in 11 years - ESPN

Kris Kim, a 16-year-old English amateur playing on a sponsor exemption at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, became the youngest player in 11 years to make the cut in a PGA Tour event.

Kim finished his second round Friday with a birdie for a 4-under 67. At 7-under 135, he was among 66 players who made the cut, which was 6 under. Jake Knapp was the leader at 14-under 128.

Guan Tianlang was 14 when he made the cut at both the Masters and Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2013, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

At 16 years, seven months old, Kim is the fifth-youngest player to ever make a PGA Tour cut, according to the Tour. His feat also comes just two weeks after Miles Russell, 15, became the youngest to make the cut in the 35-year history of the Korn Ferry Tour.

Kim, who is the son of former LPGA Tour player and South Korea native Ji-Hyun Suh, is making his PGA Tour debut. He is the first amateur sponsored by South Korean company CJ Group, which is the title sponsor of the Nelson for the first time.

A first-time Tour winner earlier this year, Knapp, enters the weekend with sole possession of the lead after a second consecutive 7-under 64. At 14-under 128, he was a stroke ahead of Troy Merritt (62) and first-round leader Matt Wallace (66), and two ahead of Kelly Kraft (66).

«Even when I was doing any of that stuff, I always knew this was what I wanted to do, and felt like it's where I should be. Just wasn't there yet,» said Knapp, just more than two years removed from working security at a restaurant in his hometown that was also a late-night hotspot. «Just kept working away and sticking at it.»

Merritt closed is season-low round with an eagle at the 531-yard ninth hole, where he hit his approach to 16 feet and made