Former Razorback Stacy Lewis goes on birdie spree at Olympics, trails by 1

Former Arkansas Razorback Stacy Lewis tees off on the 4th hole during the second round of the women’s golf tournament Thursday in Rio de Janeiro. Lewis made 11 birdies to match the low score at Olympic Golf Course and is one stroke behind South Korea’s Inbee Park.
Former Arkansas Razorback Stacy Lewis tees off on the 4th hole during the second round of the women’s golf tournament Thursday in Rio de Janeiro. Lewis made 11 birdies to match the low score at Olympic Golf Course and is one stroke behind South Korea’s Inbee Park.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Stacy Lewis made 11 birdies Thursday to match the low score at Olympic Golf Course with an 8-under 63, putting her in the mix for a gold medal in women's golf.

As well as a low score, Lewis (Arkansas Razorback) had red shoulders by the end of a sunny day. She always wears short sleeves, but her Team USA uniform didn't fit.

Her only option was to go with the sleeveless version, which showed off shoulders that never get any sun.

She still had a patriotic look, walking to the first tee with a blue shirt and white shoulders that turned red by the end of a sunny day.

[ARKANSANS IN RIO: Full coverage of 24 in Olympics]

The American had no complaints about her golf or her position at the halfway point of the first Olympic women's golf competition since 1900. Lewis was one shot behind Inbee Park of South Korea, who birdied her last two holes for another 5-under 66 and the 36-hole lead.

Charley Hull kept alive British hopes for a gold medal sweep in golf with a 66 that left her two shots behind Park. Compatriot Justin Rose won the men's gold on Sunday.

Lewis piled up the birdies, finishing with four in a row, the last one the most unlikely. Her tee shot on the par-5 18th failed by a foot to clear a bunker, and the ball stayed on the steep slope of soft sand.

"I would have taken par and ran to the clubhouse," Lewis said.

Instead, she hit one of her best shots with a 7-iron to advance it down the fairway, and then did even better with a hybrid from 199 yards to 4 feet for her 63.

"I was just trying to get a third shot after that lie in the bunker," Lewis said. "I hit the shot of the week there."

Lewis had no idea how many birdies she made or even how low she had shot until signing her card. All that mattered was a chance to win gold in what she considers the biggest week of her year -- next to her marriage Aug. 6 to Houston women's golf Coach Gerrod Caldwell.

A former No. 1 in the world who is currently seventh, Lewis has gone more than two years since her last victory in June 2014 at the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship. She was irritated with her swing during the opening round and even after her practice session Thursday morning.

But it was her one bad hole that enabled Lewis to finish so well. Tied for the lead after a birdie on the 13th, she hit a 4-iron into the bunker on the par-3 14th and blasted out weakly to 25 feet. After seeing so many putts go in, she charged her par putt about 4 feet by the hole and missed that one, taking double bogey.

"I was a little bit mad after the double on 14 and got my focus back instead of going the other way," she said.

She birdied the next two holes, then converted a 25-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the 17th and finished with her best birdie of the round.

Park made her first bogey of the tournament on No. 7, but that was the only green she missed. She missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, and then converted birdies on the last two to reach 10-under 132. She figures to be a big part of the final two rounds the way she has kept the ball in play.

"I'm going to try to keep calm as much as I can," she said. "I'm confident with everything, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself."

Hull didn't arrive in Rio until Sunday night and wasn't at the golf course when Rose won golf's first Olympic gold since 1904 with a birdie on the final hole to defeat British Open champion Henrik Stenson.

Lagging behind was Lydia Ko, the No. 1 player in the world and the favorite coming into the week. She could only muster a 70 and was seven shots out of the lead. Ariya Jutanugarn, who led after the opening round, was playing with Lewis and couldn't keep up. She shot a 72 and fell five shots out of the lead.

The surprise was Aditi Ashok, an 18-year-old from India who her second 68 and was four shots out of the lead.

Sports on 08/19/2016





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AP

Stacy Lewis of United States, birdies on the 17th hole during the second round of the women's golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016.

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AP

Gaby Lopez, left, and Alejandra Llaneza, both of Mexico, pose for photographers on the 3rd hole during a practice round for the women's golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.

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