Leona Maguire on fire in Wales
Twin sensation Leona Maguire belied her 14 years to cruise into the last 16 of the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship.
The youngest player ever to reach the match play stages, the Slieve Russell player was an incredible 10 under par for the day at the Royal St David’s in North Wales as she thrashed Royal Lytham's Emily Taylor 5 and 4 and then destroyed French star Lucie Andre 6 and 4.
Winner of the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s stroke-play at Troon in April and the French Under-21 title already this year, Leona was never pressed after scorching into a four up leadafter only five holes against Andre, the reigning Spanish Amateur champion.
She said simply: “I putted well today."
She will now play Sian James (Bristol & Clifton), who eliminated last year’s beaten semi-finalist, Swede Jacqueline Hedwall at the 19th in the second round.
Royal County Down's Danielle McVeigh was also in tremendous form as she Valentine Derrey from France by 3 and 1 with Irish team mate Niamh Kitching on her bag.
The Ulster star had two eagles and four birdies, producing them at just the right time to tip the balance in her favour. Three up after eight holes, McVeigh found herself one down after 12 having lost four holes in a row from the ninth before hitting top form.
“I played well but I have to pay credit to my caddie Niamh Kitching (also an Ireland international). She not only helped me select the right clubs, she was an inspiration at my elbow all the time,” said six-footer Danielle who now plays top seed Carlota Ciganda from Spain.
Order of Play for Round 3
| Match | Time | Name | Represents | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:30 | Carlota Ciganda (SPA)(1) | Spain | 1 |
| Danielle McVeigh (IRE)(16) | Royal Co. Down Lds | 2 | ||
| 2 | 8:40 | Caroline Hedwall (SWE)(9) | Sweden | 3 |
| Hannah Barwood (ENG)(8) | Knowle | 4 | ||
| 3 | 8:50 | Pamela Pretswell (SCO)(28) | Bothwell Castle | 5 |
| Laura Collin (ENG)(12) | John O'Gaunt | 6 | ||
| 4 | 9:00 | Leona Maguire (IRE)(45) | Slieve Russell | 7 |
| Sian James (ENG)(36) | Bristol & Clifton | 8 | ||
| 5 | 9:10 | Kelly Tidy (ENG)(30) | Royal Birkdale | 9 |
| Caroline Masson (GER)(19) | Germany | 10 | ||
| 6 | 9:20 | Marion Ricordeau (FRA)(43) | France | 11 |
| Nathalie Mansson (SWE)(38) | Sweden | 12 | ||
| 7 | 9:30 | Rhian Wyn Thomas (WAL)(26) | Vale of Glamorgan | 13 |
| Jodi Ewart (ENG)(10) | Catterick | 14 | ||
| 8 | 9:40 | Lauren Taylor (ENG)(47) | Woburn | 15 |
| Azahara Munoz (SPA)(2) | Spain | 16 |