Leona Maguire remains in the hunt for her first major title heading in to the third day of the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
The Cavan golfer is tied for fifth on one-under-par, one of just six players under par at the halfway stage as American Bailey Tardy leads by two shots.
Out early on Friday, Tardy took advantage of the conditions before the wind got up as she included four birdies and an eagle in her 68 that leaves here on seven-under par – two clear of fellow American Allisen Corpuz and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea.
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Tardy said: “It was not as windy on my front nine as the back nine. Definitely took advantage of that.
“Then just was able to hold on, I guess, through the wind.”
Maguire had a slow start with four dropped shots in her opening five holes, but finished strongly with two birdies to keep herself in the mix going into day three.
She said: “I had a lot of really good up-and-downs to sort of keep me in it, but didn’t really play my best golf today. Didn’t hit enough greens, and that kind of made things a little bit difficult.”
England’s Charley Hull birdied her last three holes to move into the top 12 on one-over-par to lie alongside Irish amateur Aine Donegan, who is one-over after a third round 76 and rookie sensation Rose Zhang, who won on her professional debut after a stellar college career.
Among those missing the cut were world number one Jin Young Ko and major champions Jennifer Kupcho, England’s Georgia Hall, Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu.
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