Leona Maguire into last 16 at Ladies British Amateur
Leona Maguire
Olivia Mehaffey lost at the 19th in the first round but world No 2 Leona Maguire is through to the last 16 of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Dundonald Links.
Having qualified in 64th place, Leona began her day by eliminating No 1 seed Leslie Cloots from Belgium by 3 and 2.
She then had the help of her sister Lisa as caddie as she beat Anais Meyssonnier of France by 4 and 3 to set up a last 16 meeting with Azelia Meichtry of Switzerland.
While Maguire, 21, was joined in the third round by Curtis Cup team mate Meghan MacLaren, Bronte Law and Mehaffey both bowed out.
Law lost by 4 and 3 to unheralded Dutch player, Dewi Webber as Mehaffey went down at the 19th to the only US Curtis Cup player to stay on for this championship, world No 14 Monica Vaughn.
Vaughn, two up on Mehaffey after nine, was pulled back to all square but won at the 19th by holing a testing, four foot putt for a winning par.
Other top eight seeds now on the sidelnes are Sweden’s Amanda Linner, Frida Kinhult and Beatrice Wallin and Spain’s Ainhoa Olarra.
Leona did only what she had to do to see off Cloots but she appeared happy with her afternoon performance, beating Meyssonnier by 4 and 3 in four or five-under par figures.
She’s not worried that she’s on course to face Spanish star and world No 4 Maria Parra, who won her two Thursday ties by 7 and 6 and 6 and 4.
“Not at all,” she said. "I am just taking one match at a time. I have to beat a Swiss girl to reach the last eight so I am focused on that Friday morning match.
“It doesn't pay you to look too far ahead in a match-play tournament."
Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan lost in the first round to Germany’s Esther Henseleit by 4 and 3.
Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, Dundonald Links
Round 1
- Leslie Cloots (BEL) lost to Leona Maguire (IRE) 3/2
- Esther Henseleit (GER) bt Chloe Ryan (IRE) 4/3
- Monica Vaughn (USA) bt Olivia Mehaffey (IRE) 19th
Round 2
Leona Maguire (IRE) bt Anais Meyssonnier (FRA) 4/3
