Tokyo Olympics: Golfer Aditi Ashok off to a great start, at second spot after round 1

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok got off to a great start at the Tokyo Olympics, with a four-under 67 in round 1. Ashok was tied at the second spot with World no. 1 Nelly Korda. Ashok, who caught the golfing world’s attention five years ago at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was just one shot behind the leader, Sweden’s Madalene Sagstorm, who shot 66.

“I think I played better than I expected today because I had a lot of hybrids into the greens, so I didn’t really expect to be like 5-under through 17,” Aditi said.

Aditi could have been in the lead, but missed it cause of a bogey on the 18th hole.

While Sagstrom shot a bogey free five-under 66, Aditi had five birdies against one bogey and that on the closing hole.

She was placed well ahead of some big names in women’s golf, including the formidable defending champion, Inbee Park (69).

The other Indian in the fray, Diksha Dagar, had a rough start to her maiden Olympic campaign. Dagar carded a 76 to be tied at the 56th spot. She had five bogeys and no birdies.

A total of 60 golfers are in the fray, who will play 18 holes for four consecutive days. Since there will be no cut, each player will get to play 72 holes.

Aditi birdied fifth and ninth from 15 feet and seven feet respectively.

On the back nine, she added birdies on the 13th from 15 feet and another from almost 18 feet on 17th.

In between, she had another birdie on 14th from under three feet after a superb approach. Placed at 5-under she bogeyed the last after missing a par from under seven feet.

“But, I kind of holed some (good) putts and holed important par putts as well which kept the momentum. So, yeah, it was a good day,” she said.

Five years ago when Aditi got into the Olympics, her father, Ashok, was on the bag and this time around it is was her mother, Maheshwari, who has been a big influence on her.