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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

Rory McIlroy, Leona Maguire and Shane Lowry all within striking distance heading into weekend

Irish golf stars Rory McIlroy, Leona Maguire and Shane Lowry are all within striking distance of the lead heading into the weekend.

At the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, McIlroy shot a second round 69 to share fifth place on five-under-par.

The Holywood man is three shots behind Australian Cameron Smith, who is one stroke clear of Denny McCarthy and KH Lee.

An eagle with two 269-yard five-woods and a six-foot putt on the 541-yard fifth was undoubtedly the highlight of McIlroy's round as he looks to win the prestigious tournament for the first time ahead of next week's US Open.

Lowry is two shots behind McIlroy on three-under-par after following his opening round of 69 with a level par 72.

The Offaly man combined three birdies with three bogeys but will have been disappointed not to take advantage of any of the par fives on the layout.

Leona Maguire plays her third shot on the first hole during the second round of the 2022 U.S.Women's Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club (David Cannon/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, Leona Maguire shot a second successive one-under-par 70 to lie in a tie for 17th place at the US Women's Open.

The Cavan woman's topsy-turvy second round included six birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

But she is within striking distance of joint leaders Minjee Lee and Mina Harigae.

Maguire is looking to win her first major championship and a lion's share of a record $10,000,000 purse at the tournament in North Carolina.

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