IRELAND’S LEONA Maguire remained in the hunt for her first Major title as Pebble Beach bared its teeth on the second day of the US Women’s Open.
Maguire is tied for fifth on one-under par, one of just six players under par at the halfway stage as American Bailey Tardy opened a two-stroke lead, while Clare amateur Aine Donegan continued her impressive week to sit just outside the top ten on one-over.
Out early, Tardy took advantage of the conditions before the wind got up as she included four birdies and an eagle in her 68 that leaves her on seven-under-par — two clear of fellow American Allisen Corpuz and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea.
Maguire made the turn at five-under par after back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18, before she dropped back with difficult front nine which included five bogeys and just a single birdie at the par-five sixth.
She said: “I had a lot of really good up-and-downs to sort of keep me in it, but didn’t really play my best golf today. Didn’t hit enough greens, and that kind of made things a little bit difficult.”
Donegan was among Friday’s late starters and ground out a four-over par 76 in the tricky conditions, leaving her alongside England’s Charley Hull and rookie sensation Rose Zhang in a tie for 11th on one-over par.
“The back nine was playing so tough,” Donegan said afterwards. “My playing partners struggled there, as well, and I’m sure everybody else is struggling a little bit on the back nine.
“It’s getting cold now. The wind is picking up and the greens are really firm, way firmer than the front nine and even yesterday.”
She added: “I’m pleased with how I finished. I finished with three pars and that was my goal, just try and get in with the same score, and luckily I did.”
Among those missing the cut were world number one Jin Young Ko and major champions Jennifer Kupcho, England’s Georgia Hall, Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu.
In emotional scenes, former champions Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie West ended their regular tour careers after failing to make the cut.
– Updated 1.52pm: An earlier version of this article included some incorrect details about Leona Maguire’s second-round scoring, which have now been corrected.
