Leona Maguire was feeling good after making a classy return to Symetra Tour duty at the Donald Ross Classic in Indiana.
The first of a three week stint Stateside, the Cavan professional opened with a three-under par 68 that included an eagle and four birdies to sit in a share of 4th and just two shots off the lead heading into round two this afternoon.
“I played really solid all day,” said Maguire. I had my irons dialled in for most of the round which helped create some good birdie opportunities.
“An eagle on No. 5 jumpstarted my round and gave me some good momentum. Also had a great par save on No. 17 – I was on the top green plateau and chipped it close instead of putting it.”
Maguire’s statistics reflect her steady swinging having found 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation while she needed 30 putts.
Currently ranked in third spot in the Race for the Card standings, Maguire’s latest step towards the LPGA Tour resumes this afternoon at 13.25.
At the top, after 18 holes in just her third career Symetra Tour start, Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) holds the outright lead by one thanks to a 5-under par 66 on the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort this afternoon.
The performance comes four days after the former UCLA standout fired a bogey-free, 11-under par 61 as a tournament sponsor exemption in the final round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. It was both a career low for Tavatanakit and 18-hole tournament scoring round.
“This morning I definitely didn’t feel like myself from the last few weeks,” said Tavatanakit, who carded five birdies and an eagle.
“I was definitely tired and adrenaline level wasn’t high. I jumped around, skipped, hopped a little on the course to bring it up since I was fatigued, now on my fourth straight week competing. The calmness is there because it has been a lot of golf. I feel like I’m doing the same thing over and over, sticking to the playbook.”
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