Charley Hull moved into bronze medal position on day two of the first Olympic women’s gold tournament for 116 years and she admits enjoyment is – and will be – key to her success.
Hull carded a round of 66 second time around the Olympic Golf Course to move to -8 and from tied seventh to tied third with Brooke Henderson of Canada with two rounds to go.
Inbee Park of Korea is the new leader two shots in front of Hull but going into the penultimate round of Rio 2016 the Brit isn’t getting her hopes up, determined just to have fun on the course.
“I enjoy it, it is a lot of fun, I just approached this week as any other week though. I feel like I have prepared quite well and played quite well coming into it and I am just having fun this week” she said.
“The material [of the Team GB shirt] feels different. At the end of the day I feel like I am representing my country every week when I am playing but this week you are part of a team, it is good fun.
“I feel like I have had some really good rounds [recently]. At the British Open I felt like I played pretty well. I feel like I have been playing good I just probably haven’t been scoring as I would have wanted to but I think I am playing decent. I just want to keep going with the flow.”
Teammate Catriona Matthew is three shots behind Hull in tied 13th after a round of 66 herself second time out and the 46-year-old just wants to keep in contention.
“I am edging closer to the lead so that is good. I drove it better which obviously then makes the second shots easier. Maybe they were expecting more wind, they were perhaps a little bit more generous on some of the pins but you have still got to play well,” she said.
“I don’t think there is anything to her game [Charley’s] that is well suited to the course, if anyone plays well here they will get a good score. I haven’t played a great deal with her but she hits it really well.
“I am feeling confident, I am pleased with where I am, I am edging closer to the lead and hopefully I can still be in there on Saturday with a chance. I think only coming down the last few holes on Saturday will it feel different.”