Three National Team Members Aim for Tickets to the Masters and The Open

Sung Hyun Ahn, Min Soo Kim, and Seung Goo Kang Compete at the ACC
Winner Secures Spots in Major Championships
South Korea Won Twice in 2009 and 2013

The three national team members are aiming for tickets to the Masters and The Open.

From October 23 to 26 (local time), the 16th Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC) will be held over four days at Emirates Golf Club (par 72, 7,289 yards) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). National team members Sung Hyun Ahn (Shinseong High School, 1st year), Minsoo Kim (Howon High School Affiliated Cyber High School, 2nd year), and Seunggu Kang (Namseong High School, 2nd year) will compete. South Korea has won the ACC twice: the inaugural champion Changwon Han and the 2013 champion Changwoo Lee. However, for the past 11 years, no Korean player has lifted the trophy.

Sung Hyun Ahn challenges for the championship at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (ACC). Photo by ACC

This is Sung Hyun Ahn’s third appearance at the event. He finished tied for 48th at the 2023 tournament in Australia and tied for 5th at last year’s event in Japan. Ahn said, “I am honored to compete as a representative of Korea. I have prepared very hard and will do my best.” He added, “The course is in excellent condition. The grass is unfamiliar, so I will need to adapt well. I think this will be a tournament where no one knows who will win until the very end.”

This will be the first appearance for both Minsoo Kim and Seunggu Kang. Kim said, “Since players from all over the world are competing, I will stay focused. My goal is to make as many birdies as possible through smart course management.” He added, “If I win, I will be able to compete in the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship. I will do my best to elevate Korea’s status.”

First held in 2009, the AAC is the most prestigious amateur golf tournament in Asia, jointly organized by Augusta National Golf Club, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC). The winner of the AAC earns a spot in two of men’s golf’s four major championships: the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship. Notable players who have competed in this tournament include Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Cameron Smith (Australia).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.