RIO DE JANEIRO, 20 Aug 2016, (HK Golfer News Wire) - The 22-year-old, a product of the Hong Kong Golf Association's junior development programme, lies in 45th place on six-over-par.
Multi-major winner Inbee Park, of Korea, leads the event on 11-under-par, a two-shot advantage over New Zealander Lydia Ko, the world number one, and Gerina Piller of the United States.
Chan had a bogey on the second hole but offset that early mistake with a birdie at the par-5 10th. A double bogey at the 11th, a hole that has proved her nemesis all week, proved to be her undoing, and despite creating a number of good birdie opportunities down the closing stretch, the University of Southern California was unable to covert.
“I felt like overall I played pretty good again, but I didn't take advantage of the chances I had on the greens, " said Chan, who is one of only three amateurs in the elite Rio field. "I only had one birdie today but I'm looking forward to the final round and finishing strong."
While the former Diocesan Girls' School student had difficulty finding the bottom of the cup with a putter in her hands, her playing partner, China's Lin Xiyu, made the first hole-in-one in women's Olympic history after holing her tee shot at the par-3 eighth.
"I've never had a hole-in-one myself and this was the first time I've seen one made in a tournament, so it was a pretty cool moment," said Chan.
Chan will be in good company for Saturday's final round, having been drawn with France's Gwladys Nocera Pucet, a former Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner and the experienced Shiho Oyama of Japan, who has 20 career professional victories to her credit.
"I always like to finish lower no matter where I stand after the first three days – the last day you let it all out, no matter if you're winning the medal or finishing last," added Chan. "I'm always focused on finishing strong.
"But it's also going to be a lot of fun. "Both of my playing partners have had a lot of success and I've followed Shiho's career quite closely as she is someone who I have looked up to for a long time.
"It's going to be an awesome way to end the week."