Three amateurs are in Women Olympic Tournament field
8/16/2016 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
Tiffany Chan, Leona Maguire and Albane Valenzuela will represent their countries in the Olympics this week
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (August 16, 2016) -- As golf
continues its return to the Olympics, the focus turns to
the Women's Olympic Tournament. The field of 60
includes many of the top-ranked players in the world
including three amateurs.
All tee times are reflective of Rio de Janeiro
local time
Tiffany Chan (8:41 a.m., 10:36 a.m.): The USC senior will be representing Hong Kong. During her first year at USC, following a transfer from Daytona State of the NJCAA, Chan played in 10 tournaments, with her best finish being a fourth place tie.
Chan took a big step towards qualifying for the Olympics when she won the TLPGA Future Open in Taiwan last August.
“It’s been a long, long journey because it started last August when I won the TLPGA event," Chan told the South Morning China Post. "I still can’t tell you how excited I am and I’ll practice harder than ever and try to prove that I will treasure this chance."
Leona Maguire (7:30 a.m., 9:25 a.m): Representing Ireland, Maguire has a had a decorated amateur career so far. Maguire, a junior at Duke, has twice finished as a WGCA first All-American and was also the 2015 National Player of the Year.
Speaking on the RTÉ Radio 1’s The Ray D’Arcy Show in June Maguire said, "It’s a complete honour and privilege to be going. I’d give my right arm to go to Rio to get the chance at a gold medal."
Albane Valenzuela (9:25 a.m., 7:30 a.m.): The incoming Stanford freshman will be representing Switzerland this week at the Olympic Golf Course. Valenzuela qualified for the Olympics after she made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open.
Valenzuela did everything possible to qualify for the Olympics after the dream became possible following low amateur honors at the ANA Inspiration.
After the strong showing at the ANA Inspiration, Valenzuela had a pair of top-five finishes in Ladies European Tour events, helping her punch her ticket to Rio de Janeiro.
“If someone would’ve told me at the beginning of the year that I’d be part of the Olympics,” Valenzuela told Golfweek. “I probably would’ve just laughed.”
The tournament will begin Wednesday and run through Saturday.
-South Morning China Post, Ray D’Arcy Show and Golfweek contributed to this story
Tiffany Chan (8:41 a.m., 10:36 a.m.): The USC senior will be representing Hong Kong. During her first year at USC, following a transfer from Daytona State of the NJCAA, Chan played in 10 tournaments, with her best finish being a fourth place tie.
Chan took a big step towards qualifying for the Olympics when she won the TLPGA Future Open in Taiwan last August.
“It’s been a long, long journey because it started last August when I won the TLPGA event," Chan told the South Morning China Post. "I still can’t tell you how excited I am and I’ll practice harder than ever and try to prove that I will treasure this chance."
Leona Maguire (7:30 a.m., 9:25 a.m): Representing Ireland, Maguire has a had a decorated amateur career so far. Maguire, a junior at Duke, has twice finished as a WGCA first All-American and was also the 2015 National Player of the Year.
Speaking on the RTÉ Radio 1’s The Ray D’Arcy Show in June Maguire said, "It’s a complete honour and privilege to be going. I’d give my right arm to go to Rio to get the chance at a gold medal."
Albane Valenzuela (9:25 a.m., 7:30 a.m.): The incoming Stanford freshman will be representing Switzerland this week at the Olympic Golf Course. Valenzuela qualified for the Olympics after she made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open.
Valenzuela did everything possible to qualify for the Olympics after the dream became possible following low amateur honors at the ANA Inspiration.
After the strong showing at the ANA Inspiration, Valenzuela had a pair of top-five finishes in Ladies European Tour events, helping her punch her ticket to Rio de Janeiro.
“If someone would’ve told me at the beginning of the year that I’d be part of the Olympics,” Valenzuela told Golfweek. “I probably would’ve just laughed.”
The tournament will begin Wednesday and run through Saturday.
-South Morning China Post, Ray D’Arcy Show and Golfweek contributed to this story
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