Date: August 22, 2014
Author: Youth Olympics

Aussies ready to fire in Youth Olympics teams format

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Going into Thursday's final round, Brett Coletta was aiming for a podium finish. It took one hole for that dream to be thrown away.

“My round was great today apart from one hole. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything bad. I was keeping up with the leaders, concentrating on my own game and I just had a blackout on one of the holes but that happens,” he said.

The Victorian finished the men’s individual tournament in 5th position after dropping four shots on the back nine.

Meanwhile, the final round for Elizabeth Elmassian wasn’t what she had hope for teeing off this morning.

Elmassian drove well down the fairways but when it came to the greens it was a different story.

“I played pretty well out there today. I started off well but then I found it hard to convert the momentum from my fairway shots into my putting,” she said.

“My tee and iron shots were great; I don’t think I have hit more fairways and greens in my career.”

It was an even front nine for Coletta which put himself in a comfortable position going into the last nine holes.

Coletta was holding bronze medal position throughout the back nine until he hit into the water twice on the 15th to shoot a four over.

“I missed two birdie putts on the 13th and 14th so I became frustrated and it triggered my down fall on hole 15,” the disappointed Aussie said.

Despite being frustrated, Coletta finished off in style birdying the last to finish the men's individual tournament at -4, seven shots behind the leader R Paratore (ITA).

On the other hand, Elizabeth Elmassian played a smiliar game to yesterday hitting fairways but could not sink many putts.

Elmassian finished her three rounds at +16 over the score card to be 30 shots behind leader S Lee (KOR) at -14.

“The greens are a lot slower compared to back home and it’s much harder to trust the lines,” the Sydneysider said.

Elmassian and Coletta have a couple of days rest before they’re back out on the course on Sunday, this time joining together to play as a team.

The mixed team format will see nations compete against each other in foursome, four-ball and stroke play.