Alvarez begins well in Nanjing

Wellington golfer Julianne Alvarez and Waikato rep Nick Coxon have made a solid start to the second Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

Alvarez, an 18-year-old from the Manor Park Golf Club, signed for a two-under par 70 at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club to be in a share of fifth place.

The former NZ Amateur Champion will begin the second round one stroke behind four players Virginia Elena Carta (ITA), Ssu-Chia Cheng (CHT) Soyoung Lee (KOR) and Maria Shinohara (JAP) who all opened with rounds of three-under par 69.

Alvarez had 16 pars and two birdies in her opening round of the three round tournament.

“She played well, very consistently,” said team manager Karen de Lautour.

Meanwhile Coxon got off to a slow start, playing the first nine holes at one-over the card.

The 18-year-old from the Riverside Golf Club turned his play around on the back nine, shooting two under and consistently putting for birdies from close range.

He finished round one in a share of 15^th place, five strokes back from the lead of Marcus Kinhult (SWE) and Brett Coletta (AUS) who opened with rounds of six-under par 66. 

The team manager said that Coxon was able to focus going in to the back nine. 

“He really used his length off the tee to his advantage, giving himself a lot of birdie opportunities,” said de Lautour. 

The golfers will play round two today, teeing off at 12.30pm (NZ).

The men’s and women’s individual competition is the first of two events that the Kiwis are competing in Youth Olympic Games in China. Alvarez and Coxon will combine for the mixed team’s event from Sunday August 24.

The Youth Olympic Games marks golf’s return to the stable of Olympic sports.  Golf was an Olympic sport in only two Games – 1900 and 1904 – and in 2009, the International Olympic Committee decided to reinstate the sport for the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing, China – Golf - Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club Round One Scores (Par 72):

Men:    

66           Marcus Kinhult (SWE), Brett Coletta (AUS)

67           Danthai Boonma (THA), Viktor Hovland (NOR) 

68           Robert Macintyre (GBR)

69           Zecheng Dou (CHI), Tony Gil (CAN), Jonas Liebich (GER), Paul Elissalde (FRA), Chun-An Yu (CHT)

70           Devin Hua (GUA) Axelsen Pultz Pinnerup (DEN), Zan Luka Stirn (SLO), Ivan Cantero Gutierrez (ESP)

71           Khai Jei Low (MAL), Nick Coxon (NZL)

Women:

69           Virginia Elena Carta (ITA), Ssu-Chia Cheng (CHT), Soyoung Lee (KOR), Maria Shinohara (JAP)

70           Elizabeth Elmassian (AUS), Julianne Alvarez (NZL)

71           Marion Veysseyre (FRA), Maria Andreina Merchan (VEN), Marit Harryvan (NED),

72           Maria Jose Fassi Alvarez (MEX)

Peter Thornton | New Zealand Golf
Media & PR Manager