First Olympic ace as Kinhult and Coletta share lead

Australia’s Brett Coletta and Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult formed a two-way tie at the top following the first round of the Youth Olympics Men’s Individual Stroke Play Competition at Zhongshan International Golf Club in China.

Coletta, who plays out of Sandhurst Golf Club in Melbourne, posted a bogey free round of 66 with birdies on the first, fourth, fifth, seventh, 11th and 15th holes.

He said: “I came out this morning and I knew it was a strong field. I didn’t know what to expect to be honest but I came out strong.  But, you know, there are two days to go.

“I was a bit nervous on the first tee.  Just saying the Olympic word and that it is 100 years since golf’s been in, you’ve hit the nail on the head, yes, I’m very proud to play an Olympic competition.”

Kinhult finished with three birdies in his last four holes to secure an excellent 66 with his only bogey coming on the 17th hole.

However, he holed from 20 feet on the last for his seventh birdie of the day to finish with a six under par 66 and a share of the lead.

“It was good today, I was playing well and my ball-striking was good from tee to green,” said Kinhult, who was part of the Swedish team which finished second in the European Boys’ Team Championship in Oslo last month.

“Of course I want to win a medal.  I want to win the competition but if I could get a medal I would be very happy.”

The highlight of the day came from young Canadian Tony Gil, who made a 164 yard hole in one on the third hole - the first ace in Olympic history - on his way to a three under par 69.

He said: “It was a bit humid today so I used a seven iron. I knew I’d hit it close but didn't know it was in until I went to the green and saw the ball in the hole.”

It was only after the round that Gil realised he had made a little bit of history with the first hole in one in an Olympic competition.

“That’s very cool," he said. "It was actually the first hole in one in my career too!”

Youth Olympics Men’s Individual Stroke Play Competition, Round One, Top 10

1 Kinhult, Marcus SWE  66 -6<br />1 Coletta, Brett AUS 66 -6<br />3 Boonma, Danthai THA 67 -5<br />4 Hovland, Viktor NOR 68 -4<br />5 MacIntyre, Robert GBR 69 -3<br />5 Dou, Zecheng CHN 69 -3<br />5 Gil, Tony CAN 69 -3<br />5 Liebich, Jonas GER 69 -3<br />5 Elissalde, Paul FRA 69 -3<br />5 Yu, Chun-An TPE 69 -3

For the full leaderboard in the Youth Olympic Games Men’s Individual Stroke Play Competition please visit:<br />http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/en_sports/GamestimeResults.htm.