Maguire playing catch up in Blue Bay LPGA
Leona Maguire. Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Leona Maguire birdied two of her last four holes but opened with an over-par round for the fourth event in a row on the LPGA Tour to lie five shots off the pace in the Blue Bay LPGA in China.
While she broke par in the first round of the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, she opened with rounds of 73, 74 and 75 in her next three starts before starting with a one-over 73 on Hainan Island.
The Co Cavan star (29) started on the back nine and turned in one-over as she sandwiched a birdie at the 15th between bogeys at the 12th and 18th,
She then played the front nine in level par, mixing bogeys at the second, fourth and fifth with birdies at the third, sixth and eighth to sign for a one-over 73 that left her tied for 43rd.
Japan’s Ayaka Furue, Korea’s A Lim Kim, Americans Auston Kim and Kristen Gillman and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez shot four-under 68s to lead by a shot from Japan’s Rio Takeda, Korea’s Ina Yoon and Mi Hyang Lee, China’s Shuying Li, Australia’s Cassie Porter and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul.
On the Sunshine Ladies Tour, Abigail O'Riordan goes into the final round 12 shots behind leader Nadia van der Westhuizen in the SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International.
Van der Westhuizen of South Africa shot a four-under 68 to lead by a shot on five-under from compatriot Danielle du Tiot.
O’Riordan shot 73 to share 31st on seven-over but Olivia Mehaffey missed the eight-over cut by two shots after a 75.
