Alvarez in the hunt for medals in China

 Wellington No.1 Julianne Alvarez and Waikato golfer Nick Coxon are in medal contention heading into the final round at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

Alvarez shot a one-over par 73 in the hot conditions of the second round at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club to be in a share of fourth place at one-under par. 

The former New Zealand Amateur Champion will begin the final round six strokes back from the lead of Korean golfer Soyoung Lee who has carded rounds of 69 and 68 to lead by two shots.

Team Manager Karen de Lautour believed the key to Alvarez’s medal chances will be patience.

“She’s hitting the ball really well and just needs to stay patient through her putting to look to convert these great shots into birdies,” she said.

Alvarez is currently four shots back from the position that would earn a bronze medal.

Meanwhile Coxon, an 18-year-old from the Riverside Golf Club, carded another one-under par 71 to be in a share of seventh place.

The National Academy player will begin the final round on a two-under par total, six shots back from Norway’s Viktor Hovland who has carded consecutive rounds of 68 to lead by one shot.

Coxon, who played in the inaugural Youth Olympics Festival in Sydney last year, is also four shots back from the bronze medal position.

New Zealand team manager Karen de Lautour has been impressed by the aggressive play of Coxon.

“If Nick is able to consistently hit the greens, he has the ability to shoot a good score because he can hit all of the par fives in two,” she said. “Nick’s length is his strength.”

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 Olympics, Nanjing, China – Golf - Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club - Round Two Scores (Par 72):

Men:    

136        Viktor Hovland (NOR) 68 68

137        Danthai Boonma (THA) 67 70

138        Marcus Kinhult (SWE) 66 72, Brett Coletta (AUS) 66 72 138 -6

139        Renato Paratore (ITA) 72 67

141        Zan Luka Stirn (SLO) 70 71

142        Feroz Garewal (IND) 73 69, Nick Coxon (NZL) 71 71, Chun-An Yu (TPE) 69 73, Zecheng Dou (CHN) 69 73

143        Ivan Cantero Gutierrez (ESP) 70 73, Eun Ho Youm (KOR) 72 71

Women:

137        Soyoung Lee (KOR) 69 68 137 -7

139        Supamas Sangchan (THA) 73 66, Ssu-Chia Cheng (TPE) 69 70

143        Maria Shinohara (JPN) 69 74, Julianne Alvarez (NZL) 70 73

144        Aditi Ashok (IND) 74 70 Virginia Elena Carta (ITA) 69 75, Maria Andreina Merchan (VEN) 71 73

145        Olivia Cowan (GER) 76 69, Marion Veysseyre (FRA) 71 74