Golfers finish well

New Zealand golfers Danny Lee and Ryan Fox finished their tournament on a happy note today.

Lee, 26, shot a 2-under 69 to end up with a total of 282, good enough for a position of 27th equal.

It was a typical Lee round – a few bad holes mixed in with some exciting shotmaking. He had five birdies and three bogeys.

“It was a lot better than yesterday,” he said. “I was trying to hit lower and I probably tried to force myself too much. But it was a good round and good conditions.”

He said it was difficult to put yesterday’s horror round of 76 behind him.

“It's really hard to come back from a five over round. But having one positive round to finish gives me a lot of confidence.”

He said he had absolutely loved Olympic experience.

“I didn't expect such big crowds. Golf is not popular here so great to see the crowds cheering us.”

Fox, 29, hoped to move up the leaderboard in the last round and he did that, shooting a 3-under 68 to give him a total of 285, which placed him in a tie for 39th.

“It was really good today,” he said. “I played by far the best I have all week. It was a nice to finish this way and take some confidence from it. And to prove I can foot it with the big boys.”

He said organisers had done a wonderful job on the course.

“The atmosphere has been great,” he said. “I was lucky to play with a Brazilian the last two days and I have never heard a crowd cheer like that before.

“All the guys have really enjoyed it. Golf in Brazil isn't big, but it was sold out today, so it's just going to get bigger and bigger.”

The tournament was won by Great Britain’s Justin Rose, after an exciting duel with recent British Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden. Rose finished with a total of 268,  16 under par.

The attitude of the New Zealand men has been very warming. Several big-name golfers, including Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, declined to go to Rio, but the men’s golf has turned out to be exceedingly popular and both Fox and Lee have said how honoured they were to be able to represent their country at an Olympic Games.

There are now two days off before the women’s golf, featuring New Zealand’s world No 1 Lydia Ko, begins.