Tokyo Olympics: Lydia Ko in medal hunt as play suspended

Weather has suspended play in the women’s golf at the Tokyo Olympics, with just two holes to play and Kiwi Lydia Ko tied for third place.

Ko is just two shots off the pace, and had made a strong start on the 17th hole – with the possibility of an eagle – when play was stopped for at least half an hour due to the risk of lightning.

The New Zealander is -15 under par, tied with India’s Aditi Ashok and one shot behind Japan’s Mone Inami.

Ko is -5 under par for the day, while Korda, the overnight leader, is -2 under par for the day, and maintains the lead at -17.

A forecast for a tropical storm saw organisers bring forward the start time to 9.30am (NZT). Storm clouds have been seen over the course and players have been told that it may be possible to wrap up the event on Sunday.

Photo: AFP

The day started with world number one Korda extending the gap to four with an early birdie, but she faltered as Ko made a flying start to put the pressure on.

After Ko rolled in a fourth successive birdie on the fifth hole, Korda slid a four-foot birdie putt past the cup to see her lead shaved to two strokes.

With Ashok also nipping at her heels, the American then imploded on the seventh after landing short of the green.

She needed three attempts to chip over a ledge and run the ball near the pin after her first and second efforts landed short and rolled straight back to her.

After tapping in for five to fall to 14-under with Ko and Ashok, Korda tossed her putter at her bag and strode to the next tee.

Korda then drove into a fairway bunker on the eighth but recovered brilliantly, draining a 21-foot birdie putt to cling to the joint lead.

She rolled in an eight-foot putt for birdie on the ninth to regain the outright lead after Ko’s long birdie putt came up short.

Ashok bogeyed the hole to fall to second.

– RNZ / Reuters