Seamus Power leads the Irish challenge following an impressive second round in the Olympic golf tournament today.
The Waterford man followed up yesterday’s 71 with an excellent 67 to move to four under par for the tournament.
He now lies just six shots off Australian leader Marcus Fraser, who hit 69 for ten under and a one-shot lead over Thomas Pieters of Belgium.
"Just to be up there with your country's colours on, there's nothing you can think of that would make you more proud" - Seamus Power
Power began the day in solid fashion and took birdies at holes five and seven on the front nine.
Two further birdies came at 10 and 11, while a brilliant eagle at 16 was tempered by bogies at 15 and 17.
Padraig Harrington remains in touch with the leaders following a 71 today. The Dubliner now lies on one under in joint 19th place.
Following four bogies and two birdies in the first 14 holes, Harrington was one over with two to play, but bagged two birdies in an excellent finish to lie nine shots off the top with two holes remaining.
Seamus Power is feeling right at home in the topsy-turvy Rio weather https://t.co/MFn9hX4M15 #rterio2016 #rtesport https://t.co/MMol2kiHqR
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2016
Power is ranked 295th in the world and only made the Ireland team following the withdrawals of Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell, but was not surprised to be in with a chance of a medal.
"I expected to be in a decent position over the weekend so with another couple of good rounds, who knows?" said the 29-year-old, who is being supported by his father, brother, two aunts and three family friends in Brazil. "It would be unbelievable (to make the podium).
"Just to be up there with your country's colours on, there's nothing you can think of that would make you more proud. You have the whole country behind you.
"Other people are probably more surprised than I am. It's only golf, it's not like the other sports - if you play well you're going to have a shot."
Padraig Harrington reflects on his second-round 71 in Rio https://t.co/MFn9hX4M15 #rterio2016 https://t.co/kkZrrtcugE
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 12, 2016
Elsewhere, Henrik Stenson added a second round of 68 to his opening 66 at Reserva de Marapendi to finish eight under par, two shots behind Fraser.
The 40-year-old Swede defied torrential rain to hole from 12 feet for a birdie on the first and 58 feet for another on the second, but looked like giving at least one of those shots back when his tee shot on the next found the water.
However, after taking a penalty drop, the world number five "tickled" a fairway wood on to the front edge of the green and amazingly holed from 108 feet for the most unlikely of pars.
Stenson's score solidified his position as pre-tournament favourite for golf's first Olympic gold medal since 1904, but he said: "There's a lot of golf still to play.
"I always prefer to be two ahead than two behind, but in 36 holes if you are playing good you can make up a few shots and I'm happy with the first two days."
