Oh Hye-ri of South Korea holds up her gold medal from the women’s -67kg taekwondo at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on August 19, 2016. It’s been so far so good for Team Korea’s Park Inbee, who was Two shots ahead of the field on eleven under-par after Friday’s third round.
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Several golfers who are stroke or two behind Feng who could be in medal contention include world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Japan’s Harukyo Nomura, Britain’s Charley Hull, and Americans Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis.
Australia’s Minjee Lee rallied to T7 at 8-under, two shots out of the bronze, while Su Oh signed for a 1-under 70 to be 5-under and T13.
She already had lost a three-shot lead in gusts up to 30 miles per hour Friday at Olympic Golf Course.
Russian Maria Verchenova, meanwhile, produced the lowest score of the Olympic Games, men or women, a nine-under par 62 that included a hole-in-one at the 153-yard fourth hole.
The 28-year-old described winning the Gold medal as the highlight of her career, fueling speculation she is set to retire. Park has battled a left thumb injury all year. She also went into the bunker on the 18th hole, and her next shot hit the top lip and only advance some 65 yards, leading to bogey. “I was lucky enough to have the opportunity”.
Park has 17 career LPGA Tour titles, including seven major championships. Maybe I feel a little down in professional tournaments, but on this stage, whatever happens, I should keep a smile. “The Olympic Games you get to do it only once every four years and golf in 112 years. It was such an honour”, she said. Park never shows it outwardly, only speaking to it when asked. “The way she won this week is very impressive”, Lewis said. Now I need to enjoy the game here. “Just going to go day by day”.
Oh Hye-ri of South Korea (R) applies a kick to the face of France’s Haby Niare during the final of the women’s -67kg taekwondo at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on August 19, 2016.
South Korea has been the dominant nation in women’s golf, and Park brought home the biggest prize. She missed the cut or withdrew in her last four events, even skipping the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s British Open to try to heal and get ready for the Olympics.
“I can’t believe I get to call myself an Olympian now”.
Inbee Park has registered two successive days with 5-under-par 66.
Park, a seven-time major victor on the LPGA Tour, shot her third 66 of the tournament, with the smooth-swinging South Korean confirming she was a cut above the rest of the field around the Olympic Golf Course as she finished at 16-under 268.
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Park, who missed two months of the season due to injuries, started on the front foot with three early birdies but fell back after dropping three shots.
