Leona Maguire posted three birdies in a blemish-free round of 69 to move into a tie for 21st at the LPGA Tour’s Cambria Portland Classic.
The Cavan professional has taken to the main stage of women’s golf like a duck to water and moved with typical ease around Columbia Edgewater with birdies at the second, ninth and 17th taking her to four-under par for the tournament.
The three-under par 69 stemmed from an exceptional driving performance where Maguire found all 14 fairways on day two of the event that was reduced to 54 holes because of poor air quality caused by wildfires.
At four-under par, Maguire trails England’s Mel Reid by eight with the leader two clear at 12-under after compiling rounds of 67 and 65 to take command ahead of the final round.
Reid goes in search of a first LPGA Tour victory and isn’t hiding away from the superb position she finds herself in ahead of Sunday’s finale.
“Put myself in a great position, a position that everyone wants to be in, so I’m excited for the opportunity tomorrow,” Reid said. “Just keep doing the same thing and see where tomorrow afternoon takes us.”
Reid closed the front nine with four straight birdies and added another on the 11th. She’s in position for her first victory a week after tying for seventh in the major ANA Inspiration in the California desert.
“I felt like I hit it really good last week, so kind of took that momentum going into this week,” Reid said. “I think it did me a favour having an extra day off. I was pretty tired from last week.”
Australian Hannah Green heads the chasing pack at 10-under par.
Rounds of 75 and 76 saw Stephanie Meadow miss the 36-hole cut.
Full scoring HERE
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