Flying Friday fires Leona Maguire into contention in Thailand
Under Round Five Maguire In At Thailand picture: Second Lpga Contention ©inpho/morgan A Scorching: The Treacy Honda Leona Has
Leona Maguire has moved into contention in the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament at the Siam County Club.
The 29-year-old is three shots off the lead after shooting a five-under 67 for the second round, adding to her two-under opening round.
Maguire only dropped one shot, a bogey on the 13th, as she carded six birdies. She birdied the first, seventh and eight, and had two more either side of the bogey before finishing the round with another birdie.
On seven under, she trails leaders Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden, Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Sei Young Kim of South Korea who are all on ten-under. Sagstrom and Tavatanakit both shot 67s while Kim scored a 68.
The Cavan golfer made a significant move up the leaderboard from her opening round of 70 which had her six shots off the lead.
The heat in Thailand, 32c, is proving to be one of the main foes for competitors.
"I think I got really tired," said Maguire's Solheim Cup teammate Sagstrom after her second round.
"I was just trying to hold on for dear life. There are some tricky pins out there, but the heat should get to all of us. I think it's just trying to really stay in it.
"I felt like, 'Ok, focus now'. You're about to really fall apart if you don't do anything good. I'm happy that I kept it together in the end. Obviously would've liked another two birdies in the back nine, but I started so solid so I can't complain."
Last week, Maguire finished tied for 29th on level par at the Saudi Ladies International. That was a tournament in which she also had a scintillating second round as she shot eight-under. Though, she followed that with two rounds of 74. Maguire will be hoping for an improvement on that weekend form in Thailand.
