Leona Maguire’s promising start to the LPGA Tour season looks set to continue after battled well to make the cut at the Founders Cup.
Maguire was up against it after an opening 73 but she rallied with a second round of 68 to climb to one-under and a shot inside the cut line.
The Cavan star carded five birdies and just two bogeys on Friday and will be eyeing a weekend charge as she looks to add another solid result to last week’s top-10 finish at the Tournament of Champions.
Jin Young Ko birdied six of her last nine holes for a 63 and a two-stroke lead over four players after a second successive bogey free round.
“Golf is hard, so if lose focus, can make bogey or double,” Ko, a three-time winner of this event said.
Yealimi Noh carded a round of 64 to match fellow American American Angel Yin — who shot her second straight bogey-free round of 66 — and Japan’s Minami Katsu (65) and South Korea’s Jin Hee Im (66) at ten under.
American Lauren Coughlin is a shot further back after a 67.
Playing the back nine first in her afternoon round, Ko opened with a birdie and added another on the 16th. She started her front-nine run with three birdies in four holes before finishing strong with three straight from the 6th to the 8th.
“I focused very well and I’m just trying to do my best,” said the 29-year-old, who broke the course record on the layout that hosted a Drive On event last year.
“Shot was very consistency from the tee, from the second. I had a lot of good birdie chance, but I missed some putts.”
The 15-time LPGA Tour winner played alongside world number one Nelly Korda and Minjee Lee for the first two days.
“Really fun to play with Nelly and Minjee, of course,” Ko said. “I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
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