Meadow struggles to opening 78 in Olympic golf

Stephanie Meadow’s hopes of contending for a medal in the Olympic women’s golf tournament appear remote after a six-over-par 78 left 10 off the early pace on day one.

The Team Ireland golfer went out in 41 shots after bogeys at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth.

The Jordanstown woman dropped further shots at the 10th and 12th before her only birdie of the day at Le Golf National came at the closing par-five 18th.

Meadow’s Ireland team-mate Leona Maguire suffered a demoralising start by double bogeying the opening hole and remained on two over after six.

USA’s Lilia Vu was the early leader after moving to four under after seven holes, which put her one ahead of home player Celine Boutier, a Solheim Cup team-mate of Maguire, who had also played seven holes.

As the early starters began to finish their opening rounds, only four players were behind Meadow which included Great Britain’s Charley Hull who was in last place on eight over after 14 holes.