round golf lead; quadruple bogey dooms USA's Korda

Morgane Metraux of Switzerland surged ahead in the women's golf tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics, carding a 66 on Thursday to secure a one-stroke lead. After the first round, Metraux was tied for third at 2-under par, but her strong performance in the second round positioned her at the top of the leaderboard. In contrast, American golfer Nelly Korda, ranked No. 1 in the world, faced significant challenges, including a quadruple bogey that left her six strokes behind Metraux. Korda began the day at even par and was tied for 13th place, but her efforts to climb the leaderboard were hampered by a disappointing finish, including a bogey on the 17th hole. She ended the round tied for 12th with fellow American Rose Zhang. France's Celine Boutier, who led after the first round with a score of 7-under, struggled in the second round, finishing 4-over and dropping to a tie for sixth at 3-under through 36 holes. The fluctuations in performance among the top contenders highlight the competitive nature of the tournament as players navigate the challenging course at Le Golf National. The third round of the women's golf tournament is set to commence at 3 a.m. EDT on Friday, promising further excitement as competitors vie for Olympic glory.