Bishop Gorman alum Inbee Park takes lead after Round 2 of women’s Olympic golf
Bishop Gorman product Inbee Park birdied three of her last four holes Thursday to shoot a second consecutive 5-under 66 and take a one-shot lead over Stacy Lewis after the second round of the women’s golf Olympic competition in Rio de Janeiro.
Park of South Korea is the most decorated major champion at Olympic Golf Course, though she has been largely forgotten this year because of a thumb injury that caused her to skip the last two majors. But she has shown up in a big way in golf’s return at the Olympics.
Park was at 10-under 132 to hold a lead against the American Lewis, who had 11 birdies in her round of 63. Another shot behind was Charley Hull of England.
Park, 28, has dodged questions about whether retirement is near, though she has said an Olympic gold medal would be her greatest achievement.
The surprise at the halfway point is Aditi Ashok, the 18-year-old from India who is four shots behind.
Lewis made so many birdies she lost count. She wasn’t aware of her score until she signed her card.
Lewis, however, had a double bogey in her round when she three-putted the 14th from 25 feet. That made her determined to get the shots back, and she did just that by closing with four birdies. On the final hole, a tee shot in the face of a bunker left her 199 yards away for her third shot. She hit a hybrid to 4 feet for a surprise birdie.
