Maguire first Irish LPGA winner
Leona Maguire became the first Irish winner in LPGA Tour history Saturday, closing with a five-under 67 for a three-stroke victory in the LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony in Fort Myers, Fla.
“It’s huge for Irish golf,” Maguire said. “There was never an Irish player on the tour, let alone a winner. Hopefully, there is a lot of people watching at home tonight with big smiles on their faces and little girls watching knowing they can do that too.”
Tied with Marina Alex for the second-round lead after a 65 on Friday, Maguire had seven birdies and two bogeys — the last on the par-five 18th with the outcome decided. The 27-year-old former Duke star finished at 18-under 198.
“It’s a bit surreal,” Maguire said. “It’s been 17 years in the making, and you kind of wonder if it’s ever going to happen. Just really proud of how I played all week, especially today. Dermot [Byrne] was incredible on the bag. Probably more relief now than anything else.”
Lexi Thompson was second after a 65.
“I played with Leona the first two days and she’s been hitting it amazing,” Thompson said.
“I knew I had to make birdies to get even closer. She obviously played great again today and definitely well deserved. I think it will help her out a lot. She’s an amazing talent.”
Maguire had an early birdie and a bogey, then ran off five birdies in a seven-hole stretch from the seventh to the 13th. She also birdied the par-four 16th. Her closing bogey left her one over for the day on the four par-fives.
“I knew my game was close,” Maguire said. “I did a lot of hard work in the offseason.”
Sarah Schmelzel had a 64 to finish third at 14 under. Alex (72) was another stroke back with Stacy Lewis (68), Patty Tavatanakit (67), Xiyu Lin (63) and Brittany Altomare (68).
Spieth (63) in the mix at Pebble Beach
On a day when Seamus Power went backward to allow a half-dozen other players back in the game, Jordan Spieth went backward just to make sure he didn’t fall over a 60-foot cliff at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Even if it might have looked more dangerous than it was, his approach from the edge of the cliff on the eighth hole stole the show as Spieth finished at nine-under 63, his career low at Pebble Beach, to go from 10 strokes behind Power to one shot behind the leading trio of Beau Hossler, Andrew Putnam and Tom Hoge.
“That was by far the most nerve-wracking shot I’ve ever hit in my life,” Spieth said to caddie Michael Greller after his shot went just left of the green.
His tee shot ran out through the fairway, short of going over the edge. Keeping all the weight on his right leg, Spieth hit the shot and immediately backpedaled to level ground.
From the rough, he chipped down the slippery green to 18 feet and made the par putt.
Hossler had a 65 at Pebble Beach, narrowly missing a second eagle of the round on the 18th hole. He was the first to reach 15-under 200.
Putnam started on the back nine at Pebble Beach and ran off five straight birdies with hardly anyone watching, finishing with a par for a 68 at Pebble Beach. Hoge was at Spyglass Hill and shot a 68 to join them.
Patrick Cantlay, at No. 4 the highest-ranked player in the field, started and finished his round with a pair of birdies and didn’t do a lot in between. He had a 68 and was one shot behind, along with Spieth and Joel Dahmen (66 at Spyglass).