Leona Maguire in cut battle after opening 73 in Founders Cup
Loena Maguire. Picture: INPHO
Leona Maguire has her work cut out to make the cut in the Founders Cup presented by US Virgin Islands after opening with a two-over 73 at Bradenton Country Club in Florida.
Fresh from her first LPGA top 10 for ten months in last week’s Tournament of Champions, the Co Cavan star followed an early bogey at the third with birdies at the sixth and seventh to turn in one-under 35.
But she covered the back nine in three-over 38, dropping shots at the 12th, 14th and 15th to finish the day tied for 88th, two shots outside the projected cut mark and eight shots behind leaders Jennifer Kupcho and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
Kupcho turned in two-under and came home in a bogey-free 31 as she bids for her first win since she won three times and claimed her maiden Major title at the 2022 Chevron Championship.
"I think really last year I kind of fell in love with the game more, so I think I'm just kind of like bringing that into this year," Kupcho said.
"It's just a game, so really just trying to enjoy it and have fun."
Koerstz Madsen was also pleased with her mental game as she made five birdies in a row from the 16th to the second, having started on the back nine, then made three birdies and two bogeys in her last seven holes.
"I think the biggest key for me is to be good mentally out there, just stay happy, not let the bad shots get too much to your head, yeah," she said.
Lauren Coughlin, who played with Kupcho on last year's winning US Solheim Cup team, was one stroke further back in a tie for third with Korea’s Jin Hee Im and Angel Yin.
Hometown favourite and world number one Nelly Korda birdied the 18th for a three-under 68 at a venue where she won the first of seven events last season
Major champions Celine Boutier, Jin Young Ko and Jeongeun Lee6 were among the group at four under.
Lexi Thompson, making her second start this year after announcing last season that she planned to play a reduced schedule, opened with a 69.
