Stephanie Meadow recovered from a tricky start to ensure weekend progress as Leona Maguire missed the cut at the halfway stage of the Women’s Australian Open at Royal Adelaide.
Meadow dropped two shots through her first seven holes to fall to one-under par for the tournament, bringing the projected cut-mark into play at even.
However a birdie on the par-5 17th, her eighth, set the Jordanstown professional on her way and she picked up two more gains on the way in to record a one-under par 72, good enough for a share of 24th at four-under par.
It was a great scrambling performance from Meadow who only found 10 of 18 greens in regulation on the round. 2/2 in sand saves and 27 putts proved a great day around the greens though as she looks to go a few places better than her top-20 result last week at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.
Unfortunately Leona Maguire won’t be matching her top-5 of last week after missing the cut on Friday at Seaton.
Starting the day from plus one, the Cavan professional needed a round in the red to have any chance of making it but struggled for forward momentum.
The former world amateur number one did get to even par through 12 holes of her round but a double-bogey at her 14th hole derailed her efforts and she dropped one more before signing for a 75 and a plus three tally.
Inbee Park and Jodie Ewart Shadoff lead the way atop the board at 10-under par.
Seven-time major winner Park moved into contention for her 20th LPGA Tour win when firing a four-under 69 to join, Shadoff (70), who led after the first round.
American Jillian Hollis (69), was in third place, one stroke behind. Defending champion Nelly Korda shot 73 and was six strokes behind.
Five-time champion Karrie Webb, whose lead-up to the tournament was hampered by a virus, missed the cut after a second consecutive 74.
Due to the virus outbreak in China, the Women’s Australian Open will be the last LPGA tournament for a month after the cancellation of three scheduled events in Thailand, Singapore and China.
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