Maguire cooking along at top of Women’s PGA
Leona Maguire of Ireland birdied four of her final six holes for a 3-under-par 68 and a one-shot lead over three players Friday at the halfway point of the KMPG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
The winner Sunday in Michigan for her second LPGA title, the 28-year Maguire had five birdies and two bogeys in shooting her seventh straight round in the 60s, dating to the final round at the Mizuho Americas Open.
At 5-under 137 on the famed New Jersey course, Maguire had her first halfway lead in a major. The former Duke star is ranked 12th in the world.
Mel Reid (67) of England, Xiyu Lin (71) of China, and rookie Celine Borge (69) of Norway were tied for second, a shot ahead of first-round leader LeeAnne Pace (73) of South Africa and fifth-ranked Minjee Lee of Australia, who pushed herself into the hunt for the second major with a 67.
The Lower Course at Baltusrol has been the big winner this week. Through two rounds there were only 15 players under par and some of the biggest names in women's golf won't be around for the weekend, missing the cut at 5 over.
Still in contention are firsttime winner Ruoning Yin of China at 2 under, two-time major winner Brooke Henderson of Canada and top-ranked Jin Young Ko of South Korea and Celine Boutier of France, along with Americans Gina Kim, Allisen Corpuz Mina Harigae, all at 1 under.
PGA — Keegan Bradley and Denny McCarthy shared the Travelers Championship lead at a tournament-record 15-under 125.
McCarthy followed his firstround 60 with a 5-under 65 in the morning at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. A few hours later, Bradley shot a 63 to go with his opening 62.
Chez Reavie, the 2019 winner, was two strokes back after a 63. Eric Cole had a 65 to get to 11 under.
McCarthy and Bradley broke the 36-hole mark of 14 under set by Justin Rose in 2010 and matched last year by Xander Schauffele in his run to the title.
“It’s nice, but golf tournaments aren’t 36 holes unfortunately,” McCarthy said. “I know there’s still a lot of golf left and I’m playing some really nice golf, so I’m looking forward to having fun this weekend.”
The 30-year-old from Maryland started slowly, bogeying the second hole. But that was the only blemish on a round that included six birdies, five on the back nine.
Bradley also had a blistering back nine, making five birdies in a row between the 12th and 16th holes. He had just under 174 feet of made putts and after every big make, he held his putter in front of him with two fingers and bowed before handing it to his caddie.
Rory McIlroy was tied for 10th at 8 under after a 64. He had a double bogey on the par-3 eighth, the hole he aced Thursday for his first hole-inone on the PGA Tour. This time, McIlroy put his tee shot in the water.
Schauffele also was 8 under after a 64. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler reached 7 under with a 70.
Wyndham Clark, the US Open champion who arrived Wednesday, had a 67 to get to 5 under.
Champions — Joe Durant holds a three-stroke lead after the first round of the DICK’s Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Club after carding an 8-under 64 in Endicott, N.Y.
European — Daniel Hillier took a one-shot lead in the second round of the BMW International Open ahead of Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who is making his tour debut.