It was a significant week for the South Americans on the Road to Rio, as it seemed that the golfers representing Chile and Venezuela were determined not to miss out on the Olympic Games on their home continent.
Among the major new entries on the Olympic Golf Rankings is a first appearance for Chile, in the guise of Felipe Aguilar who, despite being edged into second place in the Volvo China Open on the European Tour, comes into the Rio reckoning in 54th place. Aguilar had missed six consecutive cuts before the runner-up finish which brings his Olympic dream sharply into focus.
“I'm into the Olympics now representing my country,”
“There are too many positive things just to worry about one bad shot. It's going to be fun. I'm going to have my wife as a caddie and my team is going to be travelling with me so it's going to be a really good experience. I'm looking forward to everything that is happening now."
The tournament winner, Hautong Li, celebrated his first EuropeanTour victory in his native country by moving into the Olympic Rankings in 39th position, with Ashun Wu dropping out of the top 60.
“It means a lot for me,” commented Li. “Just amazing. That was the most nervous I’ve been in my life but a lot of doors open now, like the Olympics. Now it’s really close.”
On the PGA Tour’s delayed finish in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas tied for fifth behind first-time winner Brian Stuard to climb six places from 54th to 48th on the Rankings. Stuard won a play-off with Jamie Lovemark and a man with a potent Olympic pedigree – Byeong Hun An, whose mother and father represented China and South Korea respectively at table tennis at the Seoul Olympics.
