Maguire’s very much back in it after her superb 65
LEONA MAGUIRE roared back into contention with a stunning round of 65 to leave the Cavan native just two shots off the lead ahead of today’s final round of action at the Women’s Irish Open at Dromoland Castle.
After a disappointing performance on Friday, the world No18 recording a round of 75 to leave tied 42nd heading into yesterday’s action on the course, a rejuvenated Maguire finished with a flourish, landing four birdies and an eagle in the last seven holes of the third round.
Now, the 27-year-old is in the hunt for the title on the final day of action.
Maguire will go out in the third-last group at 11:20am with Sarah Schober and halfway leader Moa Folke.
And Maguire thanked the local support for her resurgence yesterday.
‘The crowds were phenomenal, especially on the back nine, and I suppose I wanted to give them something to cheer about,’ she said.
‘I didn’t get off the best of starts again today but a nice par save on eight and a birdie on nine gave me some momentum heading into the back nine.
‘I think that chip in on 12 was the first bit of luck I had gotten all week.
‘It kind of changed everything and I had some nice birdies then coming in. That eagle on 16 was obviously a bonus.
‘I’ll try and play as well as I possibly can and, whatever happens, it has been a fantastic week.’
Elsewhere, the United States are poised to claim the Presidents Cup today, although they failed in their bid to seal victory yesterday.
The US have dominated the biennial competition with an 111-1 record, and started the day with an 8-2 lead and in position to register a Presidents Cup first – clinching the Cup on a Saturday.
However, the Cup will be decided today after Australian Adam Scott and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama beat Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young 3&2, blocking the Americans from getting the job done early.
The Internationals got another point when the South Korean pair of KH Lee and Kim Joohyung took down the US all-star pairing of world number one Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns 2&1, but the task ahead of captain Trevor Immelman’s men remains a daunting one.
Meanwhile, Rasmus Hojgaard bounced back from a nightmare start yesterday to head into the final round of the Cazoo Open de France with a one-shot lead.
The Dane saw his commanding six-shot halfway advantage cut to one stroke in the early stages of his third round after running up a quintuple-bogey eight at the short second hole, having found the water three times.
The shell-shocked 21-year-old then sent his tee-shot at the next hole straight into the water and made a bogey there to surrender the lead.
But he recovered with birdies at the sixth, eighth and 11th as well as several important par saves to return to the top of the leaderboard.
And Hojgaard mixed two birdies with two bogeys over the last seven holes to post a 74 and finish the day on 12 under par.
A two-shot swing on the final hole saw George Coetzee get within one of Hojgaard as he finished his 68 with a birdie, courtesy of a magnificent approach shot.
Home favourite Paul Barjon and Belgian Thomas Pieters were another shot further back in a tie for third on 10 under.
Hojgaard remains in contention for a wire-to-wire victory as he goes in search of a fourth DP World Tour title.