Shannon Tan moves up to joint-36th after second round of Olympic golf competition
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Singapore's Shannon Tan competing in the second round of the women’s golf individual stroke play tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Le Golf National in Guyancourt on Aug 8.
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS – After “taking my medicine” in the first round of her Olympic debut, Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan gave herself a shot in the arm with an admirable two-under 70 on Aug 8 to climb up the leaderboard of the women’s individual competition.
With a four-over 148 after two rounds, the 20-year-old moved up from joint-50th to joint-36th out of 60 athletes. She had shot a six-over 78 in the first round, but improved to make birdies on the first, 15th and 18th against a solitary bogey on the 10th hole.
Tan told The Straits Times: “I had a game plan today which I knew I had to execute. It was mainly keeping it simple – fairways and greens.
“I hit three-wood off the tee on more holes today, which helped keep me in the fairway and in play. I also felt that the pins weren’t as tucked, so there were more opportunities.
“My coach Ryan Lumsden has been key in my preparation for the Olympic Games and has been with me since the practice rounds.
“With his experience and course knowledge, he was able to help me find my way around. We also worked on shots which could come in helpful.
“My goal coming into this tournament was to play my best, have fun and learn from the other seasoned pros in the field.”
Swiss Morgane Metraux had an eventful second round six-under 66 with two eagles, five birdies and three bogeys, which propelled her to the top with a two-day total of eight-under 136.
China’s Yin Ruoning was second, one stroke adrift, after managing the best score of the day with a blemish-free 65.
Two strokes back from Yin in third place was New Zealander Lydia Ko, the two-time Olympic medallist who also made a move with a 67.
Overnight leader and Frenchwoman Celine Boutier dropped to joint-sixth on 141 after a four-over 76.
Joining the home favourite on 141 are Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan and Thai Atthaya Thitikul, who carry South-east Asian hopes with matching scores of three-under in round two.
Meanwhile, American defending champion Nelly Korda had an early charge of six birdies halted by a disastrous quadruple bogey on the par-three 16th and bogey on the par-four 17th, before recovering with a birdie on the par-five 18th to tie for 12th on 142.
Play continues with the third round on Aug 9 with competitors involved in all four rounds as there is no cut for the tournament.
