Canada's Henderson, Sharp struggle in 1st round of Tokyo Olympic golf
Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom leads after bogey-free 5-under
Canadians Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp had disappointing first rounds of the Olympic women's golf tournament in Japan at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Wednesday.
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 3-over 74 and is tied for 47th. The 23-year-old birdied hole five and was one-under after the front nine. On the back nine, Henderson began to struggle off the tee and a tee-shot into the bunker on 11 resulted in a bogey. She then rallied with three straight pars before recording bogeys on 15, 17 and 18 and is eight shots back of Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom.
"Only one birdie on the card today, which makes it tough to score and obviously a rough finish to get I guess 4-over on the back nine," said Henderson. "I feel like it definitely wasn't 4-over worthy, so hopefully tomorrow can clean that up a little bit."
Sharp, the 40-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., also shot a 3-over 74. Sharp started off well with a birdie on the first hole but after bogeying three she finished the front nine even par. The back nine is where the trouble started as despite recording two birdies, she recorded two double-bogeys and one bogey.
WATCH | Canadians struggle in 1st round of Tokyo Olympics:
"I'll probably go bang some drivers, get some tension out," said Sharp with a laugh. "I do a journal so I'll go through the holes and write down what I did well on each hole and that will make that go away."
"I'll look at the positives and what can do I better tomorrow on 18, just put it on the fairway like I did and make a better iron swing into the green," Sharp later added.
The 28-year-old Swede had success in the opening round as she shot a bogey-free 5-under 66. World No. 1, Nelly Korda of the United States shot a 4-under 67 and is tied for second with India's Aditi Ashok.
Temperatures soared to 36 degrees Celsius with humidity making it feel like it was in the mid-40s.
Although both Henderson and Sharp — who live in Florida and Arizona respectively — said the heat wasn't a major factor in their play, it was undeniable that it affected some. Lexi Thompson of the United States, who was playing in a group with Henderson, lost caddy Jack Fulghum on the 15th hole when he had to be removed from the course due to heat stroke.
WATCH | The Olympians: Brooke Henderson:
"I'm from Florida and I'm still not used to that bad of heat," said Thompson, who had American team manager Donna Wilkins carry her clubs for the remaining holes. "I just hope that he's okay and he gets the hydration he needs, the nutrients tonight to go into the next few days. If not I'll figure something else out. I just want him to be healthy."
Henderson tees off at 8:25 am local time on Thursday while Sharp is in the second group out and tees off at 7:41.
with files from The Canadian Press
