LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 26: Danielle Kang of the United States tees off from the third hole during round two of the Bank of Hope Match-Play at Shadow Creek on May 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Leona Maguire will have to fight to make the last 16 in the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play after US star Jennifer Kupcho fought back from five down after seven holes to snatch a stunning halved match in Las Vegas.

After beating US Solheim Cup star Ally Ewing 2&1 on day one of the round-robin group stages at Shadow Creek, Maguire birdied four of her five holes and was five up after seven against the world No 23.

A second group victory over an American star would have been a huge feather in her cap as she tries to impress European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew.

But Kupcho (24), who is expected to make her Solheim Cup debut at Inverness in September, produced a stunning comeback to leave the pair tied at the top in Group 13 with 1.5 points each with Friday's final round-robin matches to decide who goes through to the last 16 as group champion.

"It was a tough seven holes, that's for sure," said Kupcho, who faces Ewing today as Maguire takes on the already eliminated Christina Kim.

"Not only because I was losing, but also just I couldn't hit a golf shot. So to turn it around mid-round, I haven't done that in a while, so it's nice to see that I can turn it around in the middle of the round."

While Maguire lost the eighth and ninth to turn 3-up, then won the 12th in birdie to go 4-up again, Kupcho hit back down the stretch.

Winner of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2019, the former Wake Forest star won the 13th, 15th and 16th in par to cut Maguire's lead to one hole.

The 17th was halved in par threes before the more powerful Kupcho birdied the par-five 18th to claim a halved match.

"Matchplay is fun," Kupcho said. "I haven't been super good at it, so it's nice to see it come around. Leona and I are pretty good friends.

"She went to Duke, I went to Wake Forest, so we played together a lot, all the time. My parents always used to tell me, 'She must really like you because you're the only one she talks to on the course'."

As for her birdie at the last, Kupcho said: "Yeah, we both hit great drives. We had 150 yards in, which isn't really normal for a par-5. Downwind helped that, and she didn't put herself in a great spot up by the green, so I knew I just needed to hit the green and hopefully give myself a chance for eagle."

Now 94th in the Rolex Women's World Ranking, Maguire is outside the six automatic qualifiers for Catriona Matthew's European team. But she is considered a serious contender for one of six captain's picks.

The Co Cavan native needs a big week after she failed to qualify for next week's US Women's Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco, where Stephanie Meadow will fly the flag for Irish golf.

She can certainly give Matthew more food for thought by topping her group and making the top 16 who will contest the knockout stages at Shadow Creek tomorrow.

She faces another US Solheim Cup star in Kim, who lost 2&1 to Ewing, who must beat Kupcho to have any chance of progressing.

With a win apiece on Thursday’s Day Two of group play at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play Hosted by Shadow Creek, best friends and Solheim Cup teammates Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas will face off on Friday for a berth in the Round of 16.

Kang never trailed en route to a 2-and-1 victory over Madelene Sagstrom, a hard-fought win that saw Kang lose a 3-up lead through 13 holes. Sagstrom birdied Nos. 14 and 16 to pull within one, but Kang finished with par on the difficult par-3 17th to win the match.

“I think we were trying to minimize as much mistakes as possible. We were making a lot of mistakes out there from beginning to end,” said Kang. “She made some good birdies coming in and all I kind of tried to do was keep it steady as much as I can, but there was just so many bogeys out there for us and so many mistakes.”

Salas only dropped one hole in her 3-and-2 win over Albane Valenzuela, turning on the jets on the back nine. Sitting tied through 12 holes, Salas reeled off three consecutive wins at 13, 14 and 15 to go 3 up, including a near ace at No. 14.

“I didn't capitalize on some of the opportunities to go up in the match. I knew the backside is a little tougher, so I had to rely on my accuracy and know that – and my experience as well – that I could pull off some wins and win the match overall,” said Salas. “Capitalized on a couple of her mistakes, but she played solid all day and kept me on my toes.”

Kang and Salas are well-acquainted with each other’s games, both as Solheim Cup teammates and partners at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. While they will be foes on Friday, the best-friend duo plans to spend Thursday night together catching up on some must-watch TV – the new Friends reunion special – at Kang’s Las Vegas home.

Jin Young Ko survived an 18-hole showdown with Caroline Masson, losing a 3-up lead through 15 holes and ultimately winning a 1-up match with a birdie at No. 18. Bronte Law followed in the match-play footsteps of Sergio Garcia, making an ace at No. 17 to take a 2-and-1 win over Austin Ernst.

Three Friday matches are winner-take-all – Kang vs. Salas, Moriya Jutanugarn vs. Minjee Lee; and Stacy Lewis vs. Patty Tavatanakit.

GROUP-PLAY DAY TWO RESULTS

Group 1 – Jin Young Ko def. Caroline Masson, 1 up; Anna Nordqvist def. Natalie Gulbis, 5 and 4

Group 2 – Inbee Park def. Celine Boutier, 5 and 3; Gaby Lopez def. Jennifer Chang, 4 and 2

Group 3 – Sei Young Kim tied with Yu Liu; Brittany Altomare def. Ayako Uehara, 1 up

Group 4 – Ashleigh Buhai def. Brooke Henderson, 1 up; Jenny Coleman def. Angela Stanford, 2 and 1

Group 5 – Danielle Kang def. Madelene Sagstrom, 2 and 1; Lizette Salas def. Albane Valenzuela, 3 and 2

Group 6 – Jenny Shin def. Hyo Joo Kim, 2 and 1; Alison Lee def. Megan Khang, 1 up

Group 7 – Patty Tavatanakit def. Mi Hyang Lee, 2 and 1; Stacy Lewis tied with Sarah Kemp

Group 8 – Minjee Lee def. Cheyenne Knight, 4 and 3; Moriya Jutanugarn def. Jaye Marie Green, 6 and 5

Group 9 – Hannah Green def. Azahara Munoz, 1 up; Mel Reid def. Gerina Piller, 3 and 2

Group 10 – Nasa Hataoka def. Jasmine Suwannapura, 6 and 4; Jing Yan def. Mi Jung Hur, 2 up

Group 11 – So Yeon Ryu def. Eun-Hee Ji, 4 and 3; Mirim Lee tied with Ryann O’Toole

Group 12 – Bronte Law def. Austin Ernst, 2 and 1; Amy Olson def. Annie Park, 3 and 2

Group 13 – Jennifer Kupcho tied with Leona Maguire; Ally Ewing def. Christina Kim, 2 and 1

Group 14 – Jeongeun Lee6 def. Brittany Lincicome, 5 and 3; Shanshan Feng def. Pajaree Anannarukarn, 1 up

Group 15 – Sophia Popov def. Su Oh, 5 and 4; Hee Young Park def. Sung Hyun Park, 2 and 1

Group 16 – Ariya Jutanugarn def. Sarah Schmelzel, 4 and 3; Lauren Stephenson def. Carlota Ciganda, 5 and 4

POINTS THROUGH DAY TWO
Group 1 – Jin Young Ko, 2; Caroline Masson, 1; Anna Nordqvist, 1; Natalie Gulbis, 0
Group 2 – Inbee Park, 1.5; Celine Boutier, 1; Gaby Lopez, 1; Jennifer Chang, .5
Group 3 – Brittany Altomare, 2; Sei Young Kim, 1; Yu Liu, .5; Ayako Uehara, .5
Group 4 – Jenny Coleman, 2; Angela Stanford, 1; Ashleigh Buhai, 1; Brooke Henderson, 0
Group 5 – Danielle Kang, 2; Lizette Salas, 2; Madelene Sagstrom, 0; Albane Valenzuela, 0
Group 6 – Alison Lee, 2; Megan Khang, 1; Jenny Shin, 1; Hyo Joo Kim, 0
Group 7 – Stacy Lewis, 1.5; Patty Tavatanakit, 1.5; Sarah Kemp, 1; Mi Hyang Lee, 0
Group 8 – Moriya Jutanugarn, 2; Minjee Lee, 1.5; Jaye Marie Green, .5; Cheyenne Knight, 0
Group 9 – Hannah Green, 1; Azahara Munoz, 1; Gerina Piller, 1; Mel Reid, 1
Group 10 – Nasa Hataoka, 2; Jasmine Suwannapura, 1; Mi Jung Hur, .5; Jing Yan, .5
Group 11 – So Yeon Ryu, 2; Eun-Hee Ji, 1; Mirim Lee, .5; Ryann O’Toole, .5
Group 12 – Bronte Law, 1.5; Amy Olson, 1.5; Annie Park, 1; Austin Ernst, 0
Group 13 – Jennifer Kupcho, 1.5; Leona Maguire, 1.5; Ally Ewing, 1; Christina Kim, 0
Group 14 – Jeongeun Lee6, 1.5; Shanshan Feng, 1; Brittany Lincicome, 1; Pajaree Anannarukarn, .5
Group 15 – Sophia Popov, 1.5; Hee Young Park, 1.5; Sung Hyun Park, 1; Su Oh, 0
Group 16 – Ariya Jutanugarn, 1.5; Lauren Stephenson, 1.5; Sarah Schmelzel, 1; Carlota Ciganda, 0

JENNY COLEMAN CONTINUES MAGICAL WEEK AT SHADOW CREEK

Yesterday, Brooke Henderson. Today, Angela Stanford. Two days, two upsets for Jenny Coleman at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play Hosted by Shadow Creek.

The 28-year-old Coloradan, playing in just her second career match-play event, is 2-0 in this week’s competition following Thursday’s 2-and-1 victory over match-play veteran Stanford. Coleman held a 3-up lead through six holes, but Stanford clawed back into the match and tied it up with a birdie on No. 13.

“I was just kind of like, ‘It's all right. It's swinging her way,’” said Coleman. “I mean, I got it early; she's going to get it there. We'll see how the last few holes work out. That's it.”

Feeding off those steadying thoughts, Coleman reclaimed the lead by getting up and down for par at No. 15 and ultimately took the win on 17. With two big wins under her belt, Coleman is living proof that in match play, it doesn’t matter your seed or your pedigree. All that matters is the hole in front of you.

“I've got the game. Just sticking to my game and playing smart, and my caddie is there and we're seeing similar shots and similar plays,” said Coleman, who will take on Ashleigh Buhai in Friday’s final match at 2:30 p.m. PT. “No doubles, keep the bogeys to a minimum and grind out the up and downs for par. When you have birdie chances, you have to capitalize.”

MGM RESORTS AMBASSADOR ALISON LEE SHINING IN LAS VEGAS

After a 5-and-4 win over Rolex Rankings No. 7 Hyo Joo Kim on Wednesday, Alison Lee had a gut-it-out match with Megan Khang on Thursday. The MGM Resorts ambassador eked out a 1-up win thanks to a birdie on the par-5 18th.

“I literally had to aim 3 feet left [of the hole at 18] and tap it because it was downhill. Just prayed for the best,” said Lee. “We [Megan and I] are really close friends, so it was a fun day. Definitely stressful the last few holes on the back nine. We both weren't playing our best, but tried to battle through it and that putt on the last hole was really big for me.”

The 2015 USA Solheim Cup veteran fell behind by two through six holes, but she righted the ship. From Nos. 9-13, Lee won four holes to go from 2 down to 2 up and establish some momentum, which gave her a boost on No. 18.

“I was hitting it pretty solid on the front nine. She just made a couple birdies and I had one bad hole that kind of got her to 2-up,” Lee said. “I tried to stay confident. My caddie Tyler [Ekenberg], too, we both tried to stay positive out there. Anything can happen in match play, so tried my best to take it one hole at a time.”

Lee heads off the first tee tomorrow at 11:40 a.m. PT against fellow Las Vegas resident Jenny Shin. A win or tie, and Lee is on to the Round of 16.

GABY LOPEZ, INBEE PARK DOMINATE GROUP TWO ON DAY TWO

They’ll square off on Friday for their final match in group play but for now, Gaby Lopez and Inbee Park are basking in the glory of dominating victories Thursday afternoon at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play Hosted by Shadow Creek.

“Made a couple mistakes on the front nine and three-putt bogey on No. 1 to obviously get off to a tough start [1-down],” said Park, who won 5-and-3 over Celine Boutier. “After that, I had some great up and downs and made couple of really good birdies out there. Played a bit better than yesterday, so I'm really glad how I played.”

At the 2020 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, Lopez and Park came about as close to a match-play format in a stroke-play event as possible. Joined by Nasa Hataoka in a three-way, sudden-death playoff, Park bowed out on the third extra hole and Lopez went on to win in a Monday finish.

Facing the Rolex Rankings No. 2 will be no easy task for Lopez, but her strategy and mentality for the week is undoubtedly paying dividends.

“Well, I don't know if I know how to beat the queen one-on-one in 18 holes, but I know for sure that if I stick to my game, if I play Gaby's game, I'm going to have a pretty good chance. That's all I can control,” said Lopez, who defeated Jennifer Chang today, 4 and 2. “She's playing great. You can expect anything from her, so focusing on my game to get my chances when I have them, and make some putts, I think that's all it takes. Tomorrow, anyone has a chance.”

Park and Lopez will head to the first tee on Friday at 10:50 a.m. PT.

BRONTE LAW WINS DAY TWO MATCH WITH WALK-OFF ACE
Day Two of the inaugural Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play Hosted by Shadow Creek had some fireworks courtesy of Bronte Law. The Solheim Cup Team Europe standout found the bottom of the cup on the par-3 17th with an 8-iron from 147 yards for a walk-off 2-and-1 victory over Austin Ernst.

“I was actually in between clubs, so I had to hit a really controlled 8-iron,” said Law, who is 1-0-1 overall. “It's a tricky hole and the wind really gets up there, so it's quite tough to judge given that you can't really feel the wind. It kind of shoots up over the tee box. Plan was to aim a little right, pitch it just past on the right-hand side. Caught it flush, it landed a little further than I was trying to, but I guess obviously didn't judge it right to begin with if that's the best result. Never really thought about it going in the hole.”

For the ace, CME Group will donate $20,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The 2021 season has six aces for a total of $120,000 donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Heading into the final match of round robin, Law has positioned herself to advance to the Round of 16 with a win tomorrow and some help from Ernst against Amy Olson.

“You just want to put yourself in a good position and that's what I've done. Business as usual tomorrow. Preparing the same and taking each match as I have done because I'm doing something right,” Law said. “Hoping to continue that. The other match is out of my hands, so I can only go take care of my match.”