Qualifying for the Olympics is tough task with the odds stacked against you, especially if you’re from a country that isn’t renowned for producing top-class golfing talent, but how about doing that and sinking a hole-in-one?
Morocco’s Maha Haddioui, who is the only Arab in the field, did just that on the 176-yard seventh hole in the second-round of the women’s Olympic Games golf competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
The 33-year-old went on to shoot a three-over-par 74 after a day of mixed fortunes in the sweltering heat as she added two double-bogeys, three bogeys and two birdies to her eagle ace to finish the day in a share of 49th.
The extreme heat and the looming threat of a summer storm didn’t deter World No.1 Nelly Korda from soaring to the top of the leaderboard after posting a superb nine-under-par 62.
Brilliant eagle
The PGA Championship winner set the course alight from the fifth to 17th with nine birdies and a brilliant eagle on the par-four fifth putting her in contention for an elusive round of 59 when she stood on the 18th tee.
It wasn’t to be for the for the 23-year-old sensation after a a missed fairway shot and a visit to the bunker gave her a double bogey – the only blemish on her card - but she remains in pole position for the gold medal with a four-stroke lead heading into the third and, possibly, final round.
