Group USA didn’t find yourself on the rostrum for the ladies’s golf competitors on the 2024 Olympics.
Rose Zhang, Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu made a valiant effort however fell quick.
Lydia Ko posted a 1-under 71 to get to 10-under general and win by two strokes over the silver medalist from Group Germany, Esther Henseleit and bronze medalist from Group China’s Xiyu Lin.
Zhang got here the closest of the three. She completed T8 at 5-under general after she posted a remaining spherical 2-over 74 rating.
“Nothing was going my manner,” Zhang mentioned. “I used to be most likely an inch or two off flipping out and never having the best lies from the tough. You’ll be able to’t count on an excessive amount of out of the tough. I used to be simply that half-inch or a foot away from being in good territory. It was unlucky. I made some fairly huge errors. So I can’t say an excessive amount of about that.”
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Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs
The 21-year-old went out in 40 after making bogeys at 4 and seven and a double bogey on the par-5 ninth. Although she was in a deep gap, she by no means gave up the mindset of doing one thing nice.
“You’ll be able to’t lose religion,” Zhang mentioned. “I feel you at all times must have some type of energy in you to push ahead and end. I felt like I attempted my greatest on the again 9, made some birdies and gave myself alternatives. On the finish of the day, it was barely off and may’t actually do a lot there.”
On the again 9, she made three birdies and one bogey to come back dwelling in 34 photographs. Zhang was shut, however she didn’t have her greatest stuff on the day it mattered probably the most.
Korda’s gold medal protection collapsed on the again 9 for the No. 1 golfer on the earth. She completed T22 after a 3-over 75, which put her at 1-under general. Korda was 2-under in her first three holes however was again at even par by the eighth as she made a bogey at 5 and seven. She capped off the entrance 9 with a birdie on 9 to offer her a bit of momentum.
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Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs
Issues began to derail at 13 when she made a bogey. Korda birdied 14, however a double at 15 and a bogey at 17 fully took the wind out of her sails.
“I used to be aggressive once I could possibly be, and I performed protected once I needed to,” Korda mentioned. “I performed fairly strong till the final couple holes. Once more, I really feel like that was the story of my week. Apart from that, I performed some strong golf.”
Vu put herself into rivalry early on within the match however couldn’t maintain it going. She shot a 2-under 70 on Wednesday, however from there noticed a 73-76-74 within the remaining 54 holes.
The No. 2 ranked golfer signed for a 2-over 74 on Saturday to complete at 5-over within the match and T36.
Group USA may not have medaled in ladies’s golf, however they nonetheless represented their nation in a once-in-a-lifetime alternative. The Olympics are distinctive as a result of solely the highest three take dwelling one thing, whereas in skilled tournaments, the gamers who make the reduce will win some cash.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. It’s also possible to observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
