Maja Stark Posts Top-10 Finish in Olympic Golf
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – Former Oklahoma State golfer Maja Stark tied for 10th in Olympic Golf on Saturday, ending competition 4-under par with rounds of 72-72-71-69=284.
A native of Abbekås, Sweden, Stark recorded the country's highest placement ever in Olympic Women's Golf and was one of four golfers in the field to fire par or better in each round of competition. Action at Le Golf National saw Lydia Ko (New Zealand) capture gold with a 10-under showing, which completed her medal trifecta and cemented her spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame. Ko – who led by five shots during her back nine – approached the final hole's par-5 with a one-shot lead before a beautiful drive and two lay-ups with her irons set up a birdie putt that secured gold.
Ko finished two shots ahead of Esther Henseleit (Germany) and three shots ahead of Xiyu Lin (China), who won the silver and bronze, respectively.
Stark slotted inside the field's top 20 throughout the four days of action, ramping up back-to-back par-72 rounds with a 1-under showing on Friday before sounding off her best round – a 3-under 69 – to cap the tournament. She ended her Olympic debut with 15 birdies and a day-two eagle on hole No. 9.
A consistent display, Stark was one of 10 golfers to match or improve her round score each day on the par-72 layout. Stark and Amy Yang (South Korea) were the segment's lone to card par or better throughout play, with Yang tying for fourth at 6-under 282.
Following her Olympic debut, Stark is slated to return to LPGA Tour play. The 24-year-old currently ranks No. 23 on the Rolex Rankings and No. 11 on the 2024 LPGA Money List – netting more than $1.2 million in earnings this season.