Leona four back in Canberra thanks to hot finish
Leona Maguire of Ireland during the first round of the Ladies European Tour‘s ACTEWAGL Canberra Classic at Royal Canberra Golf Club. Credit: Tristan Jones
Ladies European Tour — Leona Maguire birdied three of her last five holes to lie just four strokes off the lead after the opening round of the ActewAGL Canberra Classic.
American Amelia Lewis carded a flawless, six-under 65 at Royal Canberra to take a one-shot lead over Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, Finland’s Noora Komulainen and Manon de Roey from Belgium.
Leona Maguire. Credit: Tristan Jones/LET
But Slieve Russell star Maguire (24) is well placed, tied for 21st after a solid finish gave her a two-under 69.
After starting with a bogey at the 10th, she parred her next 12 holes before finishing with birdies at the fifth, seventh and ninth in her second LET start of the season.
France’s Celine Herbin carded a 67 to share fifth alongside Sarah Schober from Austria, Scotland’s Carly Booth, Katja Pogacar of Slovenia and Meghan MacLaren from England.
Defending champion Jiyai Shin, who is seeking a hat-trick of wins at Royal Canberra, opened with a two-under-par 69.
Maguire is looking to push on after finishing tied 20th after a closing 75 in last week 's Australian Ladies Classic – Bonville.
"I was happy enough with last week, but I would have liked to have finished better on the last day," she said. "I got myself into a nice position after the third day. It was a decent start and now I’m looking forward to kicking on.”