Ahn Byeong-hun is at 2nd place in Shinhan Open on his birthday

Ahn Byeong-hun is at 2nd place in Shinhan Open on his birthday. September. 18, 2015 07:13. kjs0123@donga.com.

Moving to press conference after the first round in Shinhan Open at Bear`s Best Cheongna in Incheon on Thursday, Ahn Byeong-hun (aged 24) was surprised at the unexpected gun salute. The organizers threw a surprise party for Ahn who turned 24 on the day. Blowing the candles with his mother Jiao Zhimin, once-famous table-tennis player who cheered him all the way of 18 holes for more than four hours, Ahn had a happy smile on the face. Despite picky golf course on the day, he finished the game 5-under par 66 with six birdies and one bogey at the second place.

“I was nervous the whole time as the green speed was so fast and pin position was so difficult. I made my utmost effort not to make a downhill putt and today, it was almost perfect,” said Ahn after finishing his game in Korea which was first in three years in European tours. The green speed of the day was 3.3 meters. Having all the birdies at three par-5 holes, Ahn expressed his confidence by saying that “My play demonstrated that I was in a good condition today.”

Ahn Jae-hyeong, Ahn’s father and manager of Korean table tennis team, was not able to watch his son’s game on the site as he was on a camp training for Asian Championship in Malaysia scheduled late this month.

Lee Dong-min (aged 30) is solely at the first place by just one stroke with 6-under par 65. Ahn’s friend Noh Seung-yul (Nike golf) who returned to Korea after his career in Professional Golf Association made a solid start at the fourth place with 3-under par 68 while Kim Kyeong-tae who is at the first place in prize money in Japanese tour finished with 2-under par 69.