Switzerland's Morgane Metraux and New Zealand's Lydia Ko share the lead at nine-under-par heading into the final round of the women's Olympic golf competition
Like last week in the men's Olympic golf competition we have two players at the top of the leaderboard as we head into the final round. Heading into the final hole, it had looked like two time medallist Lydia Ko would take a two shot lead into Saturday but an eagle on the 18th jumped second round leader Morgane Metraux back up to nine-under-par and a share of the gold medal position.
Although there were definitely more tricky moments for the Swiss player, she knew what she had to do today and that was a solid one-under-par 71:
"I stayed patient. That was the key today. I just focused on myself and didn't let what everybody else was doing get to me. I know this course is very difficult, and any hole can get to you at any point. So you have to just be on the whole time and focus on yourself, and I was able to do that today.
"Obviously I came in this week, just telling myself, it's medal or nothing. So just give it everything, obviously without attacking too much but within reason. I think I need to go into every event with that mentality because it seems to be working well.
"It's just fun to play in front of so many people and have so much support and play so close to home, too. It's really a lot of fun."
Lydia Ko in search of gold
Whilst Metraux is enjoying her first Olympic experience, she will be going up against a formidable player on the Olympic stage in the shape of Lydia Ko. The 27-year-old had a very good round in tough conditions, shooting a four-under-par 68.
Ko will be able to pull on previous experience but also feels freer as she has won two medals already, but is just missing a gold from her collection:
"I do think that because I have two medals under my belt, I've got nothing to lose. I know that I'm going to give it my all and I'm going to try my hundred per cent, and if it meant to happen, it's going to happen. I know that feeling; standing on the podium is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of story emotion that you feel and I would love to feel that again tomorrow."
"But there's still 18 very difficult holes in front of me, so I'm just going to focus on that and see where that puts me. But I feel like my game has progressed really well this past month.
"So it's actually good to see all the training and work that I've been doing with my coaches kind of pay off. I'm going to be positive, hopefully if it does payoff here at the Paris Olympics, I mean, there's no better place to do it I guess."
Like last week, the leaderboard is stacked with a lot of talented players and with a calmer and warmer day predicted on Saturday, there is a lot more chance to go low. Scottie Scheffler's nine-under-par final round is still very much in the player's minds.
Zhang and Yamashita tied for third
In a tie for third are American Rose Zhang and Japan's Miyu Yamashita. Zhang climbed eight places after a five-under-par 67, whilst Yamashita moved up three with a four-under-par 68.
Afterwards, Zhang spoke about her mentality for the round and how she will approach the final day:
"I think especially on this golf course, you can't put yourself too ahead of what's in front of you. Especially with how conditions played today. Played pretty difficult. You really just have to make sure that you hit your fairways, you hit your greens, and if opportunity allows you, try to make some putts. But other than that, that's all you can do.
"I'm here to just enjoy the grind and I know I'm going to have to grind tomorrow but you know, you just have to be in the moment."
Whilst Yamashita is just going to play and not focus on the podium:
"Probably tomorrow when I start playing, I wouldn't feel that weirdness of it. Once I get going, what I'm trying to do is get the course management shot-by-shot and focus on shot-by-shot and going for the medal."
A stacked leaderboard in the women's Olympic golf competition
Atthaya Thitikul holds fifth on her own one shot back at six-under-par, the Thai player wants to make the most of the moment "four years; we just have one. If I can get it, it's going to be really special. But if not, I'm just already proud of myself of how I did out there and also proud of representing Thailand and representing all the people in the country."
Potentially the story of the week is with Mariajo Uribe who is in sixth at five-under-par. The Colombian will retire from professional golf tomorrow. Whatever happens, it will be a fitting way to end her career:
"I'm not thinking much about it. When I see other athletes retire this week, I saw the wrestling guy and all the other guys, it was a little tough.
"It's a pretty special week for all of the girls, but of course I think it's going to be a little hard tomorrow when that last putt falls. No matter what happens, it's going to be an emotional day. But right now I feel calm and excited for it."
Just one more round to go
It is hard to predict who will come out on top. A group five shots back at four-under-par includes Nelly Korda, Xiyu Lin, Celine Boutier and Ruoning Yin, plus Hannah Green who shot the round of the day, six-under-par 66 at three-under-par in total with Amy Yang. Maybe we could put names into a hat and pick one out - so much talent and so much drive to top the leaderboard and the podium.
We're sure many share Green's thoughts: "I believed in myself that I could win and have a podium finish and now I've put myself in a good position to be able to do that with one more round to go."
The final round gets underway at 9am local time on Saturday. You can view the full women's Olympic golf competition leaderboard and tee times here.
