Leona Maguire makes late push to grab lead at Women's PGA

 

[June 24, 2023]  Ireland's Leona Maguire birdied three of her final four holes to shoot a 3-under 68 and take control of the lead after two rounds of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship on Friday in Springfield, N.J.

Maguire punctuated her afternoon at Baltusrol Golf Club with a short birdie putt at the par-3 ninth hole that put her alone on top at 5-under 137, one shot ahead of China's Xiyu Lin, England's Mel Reid and Norway's Celine Borge.

Rain storms have peppered the first two days of the championship -- with more in the forecast for this weekend -- but it was hardly a problem for Maguire, who finished with five birdies and two bogeys.
 

"I suppose if this weather was at home, nobody would even comment on it," Maguire said. "There wouldn't be a (fuss). ... Just sort of that drizzle all day. It was fun. I didn't play in a jacket for most of the day. It wasn't heavy enough for that."

Maguire won last week at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Mich., for her second career victory on tour. The 28-year-old has three top-10s at majors but is seeking her first title.

"This is uncharted territory for me," Maguire said. "Whatever happens this week, I'm sure I'll learn a lot, and just sort of taking it one day at a time."

Lin made a short eagle putt during an even-par 71 Friday morning to hold the lead midway through the round. She is ranked No. 14 in the world but has yet to win on the LPGA Tour.

Lin started her day on the back nine and was 2 over through eight holes when she came to the par-5 18th -- where she reached the green in two shots and had just 6 feet for her eagle. That brought her to even for the day, and she had one birdie and one bogey to finish the round.

"When I got on the fairway, it started to rain really hard," Lin said. "I think I changed to an extra club, which helps a lot, so it rolled up there. I think to me, it's a big relief. I feel like my patience had paid off, and that kind of set a good tone for the back nine."

Borge, an LPGA rookie, shot her second straight 69 to join the group at 4 under, while Reid posted a 4-under 67, tied for the low round of the day. Her long, uphill-downhill birdie putt at the par-4 eighth was her fifth and final birdie of the day after starting on the back nine.

"I hit 18 greens. My coach Jorge will be happy about that," said Reid, whose lone LPGA victory also came in New Jersey at the 2020 ShopRite LPGA Classic. "I just didn't really put myself under much stress, which is nice around this golf course."

World No. 5 Minjee Lee of Australia matched Reid's 67 to make a late push to 3 under. She was tied for fifth with Lee-Anne Pace (73). The South African had led after one round and moved to 6 under early Friday before making three bogeys over her final seven holes.

Ruoning Yin of China (73) is in seventh at 2 under.

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko of South Korea shot a 69 with six birdies and four bogeys to enter the weekend in a large tie for eighth at 1 under that also included Canada's Brooke Henderson (74).

The top 70 and ties made the cut of 5 over par or better, including Lexi Thompson, who made four straight birdies at Nos. 5-8 toward the end of her round in order to reach 4 over.

World No. 2 Nelly Korda, in her first start after missing more than a month with back pain, won't play the weekend after going 11-over 153 (76-77) and tying for 129th. Also missing the cut were recent major winners Lilia Vu (6 over), Jennifer Kupcho (7 over), Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand (8 over) and Sei Young Kim of South Korea (8 over).

--Field Level Media

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