Without her best stuff, Leona Maguire has fought her way into the weekend’s play after making the cut on the number at the ISPS Handa Vic Open at 13th Beach Club.
The Slieve Russell star fired four birdies on her back nine to move 32 places up the leaderboard into a tie for 65th after returning a brave one-under par 72 on the Creek Course for an even par halfway total.
Looking at her statistics, it was clear to see Maguire was coming into the event a little undercooked competitively. Although she found 12 of 14 fairways, she hit just 12 greens in regulation and after needing 32 putts yesterday, she needed another 30 to get home this morning.
Still, the former world amateur number one will be satisfied that even without her A-game, she’s capable of making cuts at the elite level of the women’s game, and when it all clicks, watch out world!
Unfortunately the news wasn’t so good for Stephanie Meadow who had started so promisingly with a three-under par 70 in round one.
The Jordanstown professional, who was making her long-awaited return to the LPGA Tour, just failed to fire this morning on the Beach Course, returning two double bogeys in a five-over par 77.
With the cut falling at even par, Meadow was two shots worse off having hit 12 greens in regulation and stroked 32 putts for the showing.
Having earned her card back in October, a longer than expected off-season was always going to prove challenging but if ever there was a cut to miss, it’s arguably the first one. Onwards and upwards Steph.
American Kim Kaufman scored her second successive 66 to lead the way on 13-under par.
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