LAST UPDATE | 16 Aug 2019
HOME FAVOURITE STEPHANIE Meadow holds a share of the lead at the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland, while Leona Maguire is just a shot adrift heading into the weekend.
Meadow followed yesterday’s opening-round 70 with a one-under 71 on Friday to put herself in a strong position to challenge on home soil in Ballymena.
The 27-year-old, who plays on the Symetra Tour in America, is joined on four-under at the top of the leaderboard by Manon De Roey, while Maguire is part of a group on three-under.
This event is a first for European golf as the men’s and women’s tournaments are brought together on the same courses, with the players battling it out for separate titles, but equal prize funds.
Meadow finished her second round with three birdies in the closing four holes to propel herself to the top of the leaderboard.
“‘I can’t tell you how much it means for all of these people to come out and watch me,” she said.
“There’s just genuine joy from people to see me out here regardless if I win or not, so it’s very special and I’m very touched.”
In the men’s Challenge Tour event, England’s Todd Clements leads the way on seven-under, while Josh Hill is best of the Irish on three-under.
Who will be on the plane to Japan? Bernard Jackman joins Murray and Gavan to map out the Irish depth chart. We also rank the best national anthems, and Murray sits down with Peter O’Mahony.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
