Koreaâs Byeonghun An finished with two closing bogeys at The Open for a second successive one-under-par 70 on Friday but it didnât bother him one bit.
With rain lashing down and winds blowing sideways for part of the day at Royal Troon, the 24-year-old An was relieved to conclude his second round without going through a golfing wreckage.
At two-under-par 140, he is inside the top-20 at the halfway stage as the leading Asian, some eight shots behind leader Phil Mickelson of the United States.
âIt was hard, especially the first couple of holes and then the wind died down a bit. Then the last couple of holes was tough. I made bogey, bogey to finish, it was blowing sideways. Overall I played great. Shot the same score as yesterday but today definitely felt better,â said the Korean, who represented Asia in the EurAsia Cup earlier this season.
âI was just trying to make pars on every hole. When I hit driver, and had short irons in, I tried to go for it but other than that, the side winds are not easy to judge. It could be into you and could be down wind. You just battle it out and grind.â
The world number 31 is not ruling out a charge on Saturdayâs traditional âmoving dayâ but is counting on the forecasted fairer weather to prevail.
âHopefully the weather will be nice. Itâs one of the courses where you can go really low if thereâs no wind or rain. Still two more days, Iâm eight back but itâs still a long way to go,â said An, who is making his fourth appearance at The Open.
It was the end of the road though for Anâs countryman Jeunghun Wang, whose Major debut ended with a second straight 75. Currently second on the Asian Tourâs Order of Merit, he vowed to be back despite the intricacies of facing a links test.
 âI had a good experience. Itâs actually good for me to play on a links course. I never thought I would play in this event and I have no regrets,â said the 20-year-old Wang, who in May eclipsed the late Seve Ballesteros as the youngest player to win back-to-back titles on the European Tour.
“I think I have to practice more in windy conditions. I have to also work on my putting as I missed a lot of putts. Need more experience and more practice to get better. Itâs my first time playing in conditions like today.â
Thailandâs Kiradech Aphibarnrat also made an early exit from the yearâs third Major, adding a 74 to his opening 75. He rued two triple bogeys and two double bogeys over his two rounds.
âIt was tough conditions and I started so bad, bogey and triple. This week, Iâve got two doubles and two triples which cost me 10 shots. Too many big numbers but I tried hard after the second hole. In the 16 holes, I shot one under which is very good in these conditions,â said the 2013 Asian Tour number one.
âIâm disappointed with the result. This is my fourth Open and Iâve not made the cut. Iâve worked hard at my ball striking and was looking forward to something better. U.S. courses probably suits my game a bit better but to be a top player, you have to play every where. You canât say that you canât play in the wind and have to accept all conditions. I just need to work it out.â
