ROSE ZHANG BATTLES, BUT FINISHES TWO STROKES OUT OF MEDALS, REIGNING CHAMPION NELLY KORDA ENJOYS SECOND OLYMPIC GOLF EXPERIENCE

Tokyo 2020 Olympic golf champion Nelly Korda and her U.S. teammate Rose Zhang entered the final round of the women’s Olympic golf tournament at Le Golf National in strong contention for medals.

Korda teed off in the third to last group, five shots behind co-leaders Lydia Ko and Morgane Metraux, and just two strokes away from bronze medal position. Zhang played alongside Ko and Morgane, starting two shots back of the third-round co-leaders.

It appeared that both American golfers – Korda ranked world No. 1 and Zhang No. 9 – were in prime position to strike. Unfortunately, both would falter on a course that challenged the world’s top female players, water lurking on all four final holes.

Zhang still had a slim chance for a bronze medal playing the final two holes, but posted a three-over par 74, and finished tied for 8th. The 21-year-old golfer from Irvine, California, said she was proud of how she battled.

Zhang still had a slim chance for a bronze medal playing the final two holes, but posted a three-over par 74, and finished tied for 8th. The 21-year-old golfer from Irvine, California, said she was proud of how she battled.

Zhang said it was still a very special day for her, having played alongside and sharing memorable moments with the eventual Olympic champion Ko.

“Lydia has always been kind of a mentor to me, even when we were back in the Bay Area and I had just turned pro,” Zhang said. “Walking up 18 with her was just a really cool moment.  I’m just so happy for her.”