World beater Leona claims ninth career win for Duke
DUKE’S Leona Maguire closed with a three-under 69 to clinch the ninth victory of her collegiate career and her second this season at the Tar Heel Invitational in North Carolina.
The 22-year-old Co Cavan star and world amateur No 1, added a 66 to her opening 69 to take a two-stroke lead over Spain’s Ainhoa Olarra into the final round at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Course.
Olarra’s 69 set the clubhouse target at 11-under but Leona was not to be denied before this week’s LPGA Tour Stage II start and claimed a onestroke victory.
“I’m really proud of both the team and my individual performance this week,” Maguire said after Duke also took the team title. “We played some true Duke golf this weekend, everyone really dug deep coming down the stretch to hold off Alabama and it gives us great confidence leading into our final event of the fall.”
Maguire will not contest the final stage of the LPGA Tour School at the end of next month as she would be required by the LPGA Tour to turn professional immediately were she to win her card.
As she plans to graduate from Duke in May before turning professional, she is required simply to play all four rounds at this week’s Stage II test to maintain the Symetra Tour status she earned by finishing sixth at the same stage last year.
When she eventually turns professional, she can rely on her Symetra Tour status and invitations for starts on the LPGA Tour.