Maguire digs deep but finds herself six back after getting tough side of draw at Muirfield
GULLANE, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 05: In Gee Chun of South Korea tees off on the 6th hole during Day Two of the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield on August 05, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Leona Maguire needs a low round to get back into the mix after she got the tough side of the draw in the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.
She was one-over through 13 holes in heavy winds before battling back with birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th for a two-under 69.
While she was tied for 10th on two-under, just two shots off the lead as the afternoon starters got underway, she finished the day tied for 17th, six shots behind reigning KMPG Women’s PGA champion In Gee Chun of Korea, as the wind dropped.
Three-time major winner In Gee fired a six-under 66 to lead by a shot from South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who posted six-under 65s, with seven-time Major winner Inbee Park six-under after a 67.
Surprised not to get calmer morning conditions, Maguire bogeyed short fourth, eagled the fifth but then dropped shots at the 11th and 13th to slip to one-over.
She birdied the 14th with a five-wood to four feet and rolled in a 55-footer for birdie at the 15th before getting up and down from nearly 40 yards from sand at the 17th.
But while she’s just a shot outside the top-10, she’s in a nine-way logjam for 17th with some big names ahead.
“It wasn’t as calm as I thought it was going to be this morning; it was definitely a little bit windier,” Maguire confessed. “So I didn’t get a few of the birdies I would have liked on two and three and that eagle on five was big. I plugged it up the face of a bunker on 11, which was frustrating but I hung and birdied 14 and 15, which was massive.
A general view of Leona Maguire of Ireland, Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Nasa Hataoka of Japan with their Caddies on the 2nd green during Day Two of the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield on August 05, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
“You can’t switch off for a second. You go from having a four-foot eagle putt at five to all of a sudden being plugged up the bunker on 11 and wondering how you will get away with bogey. You have to stay very patient, very calm and think through your options.
“Two-under is close to the top 10 and if you had offered it to me standing on the 14th tee, I would have grabbed it with both hands. It’s a nice position going into the weekend and some nice momentum to build on going into tomorrow.”
Stephanie Meadow shot 72 to miss the cut on six-over as slow play from a member of her group left them on the clock for 11 holes.
Meanwhile, Ireland finished runner-up to England in the R&A Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals at Ballyliffin.
Needing only a tie to win the overall title, Ireland lost 11-10 to England to finish in second place in the overall standings.
The Women's team did win their section of the competition with two points from three. The Men's team finished in second place, behind England.
Friday morning began strongly for the hosts in Ballyliffin, with wins for Rob Moran and Caolan Rafferty, Matt McClean and Hugh Foley, Anna Foster and Aine Donegan, and Colm Campbell and Rob Brazill giving Ireland a 4-3 advantage.
Despite coming close in numerous Singles matches. Ireland won only six of a possible 14 points in the afternoon, with Lauren Walsh, Foster, Donegan and Rafferty winning full points. Peter O'Keeffe, Mark Power, Liam Nolan and Sara Byrne all won half points.
In a tight afternoon session, six of the fourteen matches went to the 18th, with England winning four of those points.
Wales finished in third place, defeating Scotland 11-10.
