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The individual men's golf competition at the Tokyo Games begins with surprises with the Austrian Sepp Straka protagonist of a record start. At the Kasumigaseki Country Club (par 71) in Saitama a not exciting start for the blues Guido Migliozzi and Renato Paratore, both 41 / i with 71 (par) after the first round, which suffered a suspension of over two hours due to bad weather.
Tokyo 2020, results
In Japan Straka, 28 years old from Vienna and 161 / o in the world ranking, with a bogey free trial closed in 63 (-8) and embellished with eight birdies, equaled the best partial already recorded at the Olympics in 2016 by the Australian Marcus Fraser and by the American Matt Kuchar (who later won the bronze).
The Austrian, who in the palmares can count on only one title (won in 2018) on the Web.com Tour (today Korn Ferry Tour, the second US men's circuit), is followed by another outsider, the Thai Jazz Janewattananond, second with 64 (-7) ahead of the beautiful Thomas Pieters and the Mexican Carlos Ortiz, both 3 / i with 65 (-6).
The big names chase in Tokyo. Americans Xander and Patrick Reed Schauffe with 68 in 12th place (-3). Same score, among others, for the Norwegian Viktor Hovland, 11 / o in the world. Big regrets for Paratore. Author of a good performance up to 16 with three birdies (of which the first at 1) and a bogey, the Roman tripped over two final bogeys at 17 and 18 (after more than two hours of suspension).
Birdie at 1 also for Migliozzi from Vicenza, also at his absolute debut at the Olympics, before two bogeys in the first nine. While in the latter two other birdies arrived mixed with a bogey. With the two Azzurri, in 41st place, among others there is also the American Justin Thomas, world number 4.
While three among the favorites on the eve, the American Collin Morikawa (this year king of The Open and third in the world ranking), the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama (winner of The Masters last April) and Rory McIlroy (Northern Irishman who at the Games of Tokyo competes for Ireland) 20 / a square (69, 2).
Once again golf proved to be an unpredictable sport, even at the Olympics. In the Top 10, among others, there are in fact also two other surprises in addition to those already mentioned. Like the Filipino Juvic Pagansan, 5 / o with 66 (-5), and the Indian Anirban Lahiri, 8 / o with 67 (-4).
Tomorrow the second round and the blues are called to find positions and then play their chances in the last 36 holes scheduled for the weekend.
