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.

“I tried my best, I knew I had to make a putt on 17, and then eagle on 18 to give myself an opportunity, but the golf ball doesn’t really want to go home,” Zhang said. “I’m proud of the way I fought.  I made some birdies on the back nine and gave myself a chance.”

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.”

Across four days at Le Golf National, Ko’s play was strong and steady, dominant at times. Her winning four-round total was 278, ten-under-par.

The Korean-bord New Zealander held a commanding five-stroke lead making the turn for the back nine on Saturday, but began to squander it. She lost a ball in the water on 13, making double bogey. Her lead quickly diminished to a nerve-wracking one-stroke.

Ko hung on to win her first gold medal by just one stroke over surprise German silver medalist Esther Henseleit.

The 27-year-old Ko became the first golfer in history – male or female – to medal at three consecutive Olympic Games. Ko won silver at Rio 2016, bronze at Tokyo 2020, and on Saturday at Le Golf National became an an Olympic gold medalist at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“Being here, tied for the lead going into today, I knew that the next 18 holes we’re going to be the most important 18 holes of my life,” said Ko, who revealed that Paris 2024 will be her final Olympic Games.

“I kept telling myself I get to write my own ending, that’s a quote that Simone Biles had said and I heard in her documentary, so I kept telling myself that I was going to control my fate and for it to end this way is honestly a dream come true,” she said.

After 13 holes, Korda was among five players tied in bronze medal position at five-under par.

Korda chunked a ball in the water on her approach shot on 15 and ultimately made a triple bogey seven. She fell down the leaderboard and eventually out of medal contention, as she closed with a final round of four-over par, 75.

“I played pretty solid until the last couple of holes again – I feel like that has been the story of my week, but other than that I feel like I played some solid golf,” Korda said.

Despite the misfortune of being unable to successfully defend her Olympic gold medal, the 26-year-old from Bradenton, Florida, highlighted the positives of her second Olympic experience, over four pleasant days at Le Golf National.

“It’s been great – the crowds have been amazing and at the end of the day I’ve played some really solid golf for three years from Tokyo to get me back on this team and to represent the United States,” Korda said. “I’m a two-time Olympian and I have a gold medal, and I’m proud of that.”

Zhang said she can’t wait to participate and represent Team USA at the closing ceremony at Stade de France on Sunday evening.

“Yes, I will be at closing ceremony – I don’t want to miss it,” Zhang said, having missed the opening ceremony, while playing a tournament in Canada.

“One person that I do want to meet in particular is Sydney McLaughlin,” she said, with an infectious smile.

Zhnag was excited to learn that her fellow Stanford University alumni Katie Ledecky will serve as United States flag bearer on Sunday evening at Stade de France.

“It’s just so cool to see so many Stanford Alums play and compete here. We have the most out of any school – it’s so cool to just have something in common with 60 other Olympians. I can’t wait to meet them.”