August 12, 2016: Indian golfers battled hard on an eventful first day for golf in the Olympics, back after a 112 year hiatus. Anirban Lahiri recovered, albeit partially, with two late birdies while SSP Chawrasia let a good position slip away as the round progressed. Anirban shot three over 74 to end the day just inside the top 50. Chawrasia on the other hand, inside the top ten at one stage slipped a bit. In the final tally on day one, Lahiri and Chawrasia carded a three-over 74 and even-par 71 respectively in the opening round of the golf competition in Rio de Janeiro.
Anirban started the day with a bogey at the par-5 first hole, before steadying himself with four straight pars. He conceded two bogeys in three holes (6&8) just ahead of the turn to start his back nine at three over. He took 38 strokes to navigate the front nine, with the par score at 35.
Anirban suffered a major setback when he conceded back to back bogeys at the 11th and 12th holes. The golfer from Bengaluru showed resilience towards the end, making four pars and two birdies in the final six holes to rise up the order.
Chawrasia was sitting pretty at two under through six holes, firmly inside the top 10. But three bogeys over a four hole stretch from the 10th saw him slip over par.
The morning belonged to Marcus Fraser. The Aussie separated himself from the field with a forceful 8-under 63 to help himself into a healthy three shot lead.
Fraser fired a sizzling eight-under 63 to lead the clubhouse, followed by Canada’s Graham Delaet (66) and Thomas Pieters (67) in Rio de Janeiro.
The Kolkata-born Chawrasia had a disappointing back nine as he initially let the advantage slip with three bogeys at the 10th, 12th and 13th holes against a birdie at the 11th. But a birdie at the final 18th hole helped him end on an even-par.
Justin Rose created a social media flutter when he made an ace at the par-3 fourth hole. It is the first recorded Hole-in-One in Olympic history.
