Fraser maintains one-shot lead through 2 rounds of Olympic golf tourney
Marcus Fraser was the sixth-highest ranked Australian male golfer, and he’s in the Olympic field because a handful of his countrymen decided they would skip the sport’s return to the Games.
Through 36 holes, he’s taken advantage of his opportunity.
Fraser leads the men’s individual Olympic golf tournament in Rio de Janeiro by a shot on 10-under 132 after shooting 2-under 69 in Friday’s second round.
The Aussie is a shot clear of Belgian Thomas Pieters and two ahead of Swede and British Open champion Henrik Stenson.
Unexpected early rain and wind softened the Gil Hanse-designed Olympic Golf Course, making it play longer than anticipated heading into the event. The closest score on Friday to Fraser’s opening 63 was turned in by New Zealand’s Danny Lee, whose 6-under 65 brought him up 28 spots to a tie for sixth place.
Among the American contingent — the only country with the maximum four players in the men’s tournament — Matt Kuchar is closest to the lead in the 60-player, 72-hole event. Kuchar is tied for 14th place at 3-under total for the first 36 holes. Bubba Watson is next best among the U.S. players at 2 under par and tied for 18th place. Patrick Reed is T-22 and a shot behind Watson. Rickie Fowler is in 50th place at 4 over par, 14 back of the lead.
Unlike most weeks on the PGA Tour, there is no cut in the Olympic golf tournaments. The players will be regrouped for the third round in order of their position on the leaderboard, meaning Fraser, Pieters and Stenson will go off in the final group on Saturday.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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