Leona Maguire birdied two of her final three holes in the second round of the LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati to make the cut on the number.
After opening with a one-over 71, the Cavan woman began round two just above the provisional cutline and a birdie on the par-5 14th – her fifth – gave her a little more breathing space before she gave that shot back on the 18th.
Back-to-back bogeys on two and three saw her dip below the cutline for the first time, and when she dropped another shot on the sixth, she needed to pick up at least two shots in her final three holes and hope that the cutline which was hovering between +1 and +2 settled on the latter.
A birdie on the par-5 16th was just what the doctor ordered, and she followed up with another on the par-4 17th before a gutsy par on the closing par-3 saw her into the clubhouse at +2 but she still needed help as she lay T66 with the top 65 and ties advancing.
She didn’t have to wait long, however, as Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad, playing in the group behind, bogeyed the 36th hole and the +2s were back in business.
Unfortunately, Lauren Walsh won’t be joining her for the weekend. The LPGA rookie started the day a shot behind Maguire but made just the one birdie while dropping shots on six others to shoot a five-over 75 that left her on +7 overall.
Jin Young Ko and Amanda Doherty hold the lead after matching four-under 66s that leaves them on -7, one stroke ahead of Lottie Woad whose 64 was the low round of the day.
Lydia Ko is in solo fourth at -5, with Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul, Jennifer Kupcho, Chella Choi and Rio Takeda all sharing fifth at -4.
Korda had two late birdies in a 67 in the morning session at Maketewah Country Club. She won The Chevron Championship for her third major, then followed with a victory in Mexico before taking last week off.
“There have definitely been some loose shots,” Korda said. “Not really happy with the way I’m hitting it right now, but overall, I mean, I’m not complaining with the position I’m in. Hopefully, I can go figure something out again on the range after today.”
Ko had a bogey-free round in the morning to reach 7-under 133 on the first-year venue. The 30-year-old South Korean player has 15 LPGA Tour victories, winning two majors in 2019.
“Getting older, like little more afraid and think too much,” Ko said. “I’m just trying to be like the time, like 2018 through 2021. So, brave is good key for me, and just have fun.”
Doherty had five birdies and a bogey in the afternoon session, closing with a birdie on the par-3 18th. The 28-year-old former Florida State player is winless on the tour. She’s fighting to secure higher tour status to avoid missing events.
“I’m really excited,” Doherty said. “I’m just excited to be teeing it up this week after reshuffling after Mexico. I’m going in with that mindset I think and just happy to be here and happy to be playing.”
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