GOLF: It was a positive start to the mixed team event for Australia yesterday ending the day -9, two shots behind the leaders from Italy.

The first round saw teams play the four-ball format where each player plays their ball with the lowest score taken after each hole.

Midway through todays second round, the Aussie’s have gained a shot to be sitting at 10 under with the back nine to play.

Today’s format is foursome, where each player hits alternate shots and also the tee shots so the same player doesn’t hit every drive.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Brett Coletta and Elizabeth Elmassian, double bogeying the first hole.

“We started with a double bogie on the first hole which wasn’t great so we had a little chat after to stay focused,” Coletta said.

They then birdie the second, bogeyed the third and parred holes four, five and six.

Coletta and Elmassian turned it on over the last few holes of the front nine, shotting three birdies to move back up the leader board into third position.

“We have some momentum at the moment so we need to utilise it and put some pressure on the score board and see what we can come up with,” Coletta said walking down the 10th.

The mixed team format is an unknown for Coletta but knows he it’s a great learning experience.

“Foursomes is a tough game, you really have to adapt to the conditions and adapt to your partner,” Coletta said.

“It’s very unusual because we don’t play much of the mixed format in Australia.”

The green and gold are sitting at four shots off the pace behind the Denmark team.

The final round tomorrow will see team’s play stroke play with both scores being combined to equal their final team score.

More to come...

Phillip Brent
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam