Ko in medal mix as typhoon threatens
Lydia Ko is right in the thick of the medal race as a typhoon threat hangs over the final round of the women’s golf tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.
Tied for third at 10-under par through three rounds at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, the world No 11 will now have to wait and see if the forecast storm cuts the tournament short.
Officials have been keeping a close eye on the weather, and are prepared to push the final round to tomorrow if required.
However, if they cannot finish the final round today or tomorrow, the medals will be awarded based on the standings at the end of yesterday’s round.
Crucially, that would leave Rio silver medallist Ko in a four-way tie in the bronze medal position, five strokes behind American leader Nelly Korda, and two behind India’s Aditi Ashok.
Ko carded a five-under par 66 yesterday to back up her 67 the previous day, improving her overnight position by six spots.
It was the best round by any player yesterday, one which started off frustratingly, as Ko managed just one birdie on the front nine.
However, Ko got rolling after finally holing a putt on the par-three
10th, before making back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13.
Set up by a lovely approach, her birdie on the par-four 13th propelled her into a share of fourth at nineunder.
More was to come. Ko, who holed a tricky putt to save par on 16, birdied the par-five 17th which, along with the 18th, she bogeyed to tarnish her second round on Thursday.
Japan’s Mone Inami, in a share of second at the time, then dragged a crucial par saving putt wide on the
18th, boosting Ko into third place. She’s tied with Mone, Australia’s Hannah Green and Denmark’s Emily Pedersen.
Officials have not yet clarified what happens if the tournament finishes after 54 holes, although it’s likely multiple medals would be handed out.
Regardless, Korda is in charge, out alone in the gold medal position at 15-under the card, three shots clear of Ashok.
The 23-year-old didn’t go close to matching her scorching nine-under par 62 on Thursday, but shot a solid enough two-under 69 to remain in control.
She’ll sleep easy with the looming threatening weather, knowing the gold medal is hers if the tournament doesn’t resume.
An improving weather forecast today, coupled with a 6.30am (9.30am NZT) start – an hour earlier than normal – gives hope to the fourth round going ahead before the forecast storm arrives.