Inbee Park - Evian Championship - distribution of balls at the recording - Photo © T.Plassais / Swing Féminin

The South Korean In-bee Park took control of the Olympic golf tournament in Rio on Thursday alone, followed closely by the American Stacy Lewis at 1 point, who jumped in the standings thanks to a superb card of - 8 in the second round.

Park, ex- current world No. 1, is just recovering from a thumb injury and comes back in force with an excellent -5 (5 birdies) on Thursday like the day before, South Korea is therefore well on the way. meeting point of this first Olympic golf tournament after 6 years of absence from the discipline for women.

"I missed a few face-offs and ended up in the bunkers, but I managed to turn them into birdies, that's clearly what made the difference on this lap," Park commented. also satisfactory from the improvement in his putting compared to the first round.

The best card and transaction of the day are to the credit of Stecy Lewis, who took 17 places in the standings to threaten Park. The American signed eleven birdies on the Barra da Tijuca course, including five on the last six holes, but unfortunately for her a double bogey at 14 which prevented her from taking the lead.

“To be at the top of the ranking at the Olympic Games is something that from now on, I think, will become the dream of all children,” commented the American, very critical of the players in the men's table who refused to come to Rio where golf was making its return to the Olympic program for the first time since 1904.

But as Park says, "now after two rounds everyone knows the course and the real game starts tomorrow (Friday)".

The heir to the one and only Olympic golf champion, American Margaret Abbott, will be named Saturday after the fourth round.