A one-under-par second round sees Cavan’s Leona Maguire amongst those at the top of of the leaderboard as the 31-year-old sits in T2 on three-under-par.
Maguire did well to battle the gale forces around Shadow Creek, and began her day with a trio of pars before making birdie at the par-5 fourth which was followed swiftly by another at the seventh, but a missed green at the par-3 eighth meant bogey for Maguire as the two-time LPGA winner took the turn at one-under.
As the wind began to worsen, so did the scores all around the leaderboard and Maguire succumbed to the elements at the par-4 10th to make bogey. SHe quickly regrouped to bounce back at the 11th after a fine approach iron helped seal a birdie.
A bogey came at the 15th but Maguire ended her day on a high note with a brilliant birdie at the last to post a one-under-par 71.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” said Maguire. “Obviously, a lot windier today and different wind than we have got all week as well, which made some holes play quite a bit longer. We knew we were going to get the firmer end of the greens this afternoon, so it was just a case of staying extremely patient.”
Speaking on the beauty of Shadow Creek, Maguire said; “It’s one of the best courses we play all year. I think you could have a major championship here in the morning and no one would think twice about it. It’s one of my favourites of the year. I always enjoy coming here. I was disappointed when the match play wasn’t coming back and was excited when I heard this was coming.”
“You can’t switch off for a second on this golf course. You don’t want to get too distracted by all the beauty looking around you,” added Maguire.
Both Anna Foster and Lauren Walsh struggled on the day but both will be happy to make the weekend as they managed to stay inside the seven-over-par cutline.
Foster posted her second two-over-par round of the week to see the 24-year-old in T31 on four-over-par. Foster’s best work came at the par-4 fourth, making an eagle to keep her spirits high.
It wasn’t Lauren Walsh’s day as the 25-year-old only managed to make one birdie in a round that saw her post an eight-over-par 80, but Walsh’s first round performance sees her into the weekend as she sits T48 on six-over-par.
Soaring at the top of the leaderboard is USA’s Lauren Coughlin as the 33-year-old continued her fine form posting a three-under-par to take her five shots clear of the pack at eight-under-par.
Solheim Cup winner Coughlin began the day as co-leader alongside Japanese duo Miyu Yamashita and Nasa Hataoka in Las Vegas.
“I made a couple of good pars to start. I made two really good par saves on two and three and then had a really good up-and-down on four for birdie to get the day going,” said Coughlin.
“The wind was swirling at time and a lot of crosswinds. The greens firmed up as they do in the afternoon especially with the wind. It was a really solid round. I had a lot of fun out there and looking forward to the weekend.”
Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim joins Maguire in T2, closely followed by Nelly Korda, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Miyu Yamashita in T4 on two-under.
Round three will begin at 3:20 p.m. Irish time with the leaders teeing off at 8:20 p.m.
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