Shannon Tan opened her campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with a six-over-par 78 to end her first round in a tied-50th place as the women’s golf competition got underway at the Le Golf National on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old, who made history by becoming the first Singaporean golfer to compete at the Olympic Games, mixed her card with three bogeys, two double-bogeys and a birdie.
Playing alongside Mexico’s Maria Fassi and Norway’s Celine Borge, Tan got off to a shaky start with a bogey on the par-four first hole before dropping two more shots on holes four and seven to reach the turn in 39.
“The course is playing quite tough. The rough is thick so most players, including myself, take their medicine and just punch it out of the rough just to get the ball into play again. Missing fairways can cost quite a few shots around here,” said Tan.
Two double-bogeys on 10 and 15 saw her slip further down the leaderboard before a closing birdie on 18 ended the round on a positive note and brought much relief.
When asked about what went through her mind as she continued her freefall down the leaderboard after dropping four more shots, Tan said: “I just kept telling myself to stick to the process, focus on the controllable and what is ahead of me which is the next shot.
“I knew there was a lot more golf to play from that point. In fact, three more days! We had a game plan and I want to focus on exciting it. I know that if I can grind it out today, tomorrow will be a fresh round.”
Meanwhile, home favourite Celine Boutier delighted the French crowds as she cruised into a three-shot lead over South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai. Reigning champion Nelly Korda of the United States battled back from a poor opening stretch of holes to finish on even par, seven strokes behind Boutier.
“It’s true that it’s nice to be able to post a good first round, and yes super positive for the rest of the week. The first round doesn’t mean much, there are still three days left, it’s a lot of golf, so much can happen.”,” said Boutier.
Ends.