Italy and Korea win golfing gold at 2014 Youth Olympic Games

Renato Paratore (pictured) shot 66 to win the gold medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. He overturned a three shot deficit at the start of the day, moving from fifth to first, to win the Men’s Individual Stroke Play Golf Competition. His final round 66 meant he was 11-under-par for his last 36 holes, to beat Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult into second place. Paratore, ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, birdied the 17th and 18th to go from being one behind to one in front and then had a nervous wait as Kinhult came down the 18th. Thailand’s Danthai Boonma took the bronze medal.

Paratore commented, “I played really good on the long game and putted well today. I knew I was one off the lead when I was playing 17, so I knew I had to make two birdies to win. I was really pleased to make the birdies, one from ten metres and one from six. I was nervous watching Marcus playing the last hole but it is really nice to win the gold medal. My father is here and he is really excited for me. I can’t believe it. I’m very happy.”

The gold medal in the Women’s Individual Stroke Play competition was awarded to Lee Soyoung from Korean who played a near perfect final round. With no bogies and seven birdies the 17-year-old shot 65 to finish 14-under-par and three ahead of her nearest rival Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ssu-Chia, who won the silver medal. Supamas Sangchan, from Thailand, finished four shots further back to claim the bronze.