IRELAND’S LEONA Maguire has made an encouraging start at the Women’s PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East in Texas.
The Cavan native finished the day on an even par 72, with many of her rivals yet to finish.
Paired with Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and USA’s Joanna Coe, Maguire produced a solid opening round.
A bogey on the fifth was the one blemish to her opening nine holes, before a birdie on the 11th left her inside the top 10 at one point.
Another birdie on the 14th moved her to one-under-par before a bogey on the 16th hampered Maguire’s progress.
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The 30-year-old retained her composure after this setback to ensure she was in contention after the opening round.
Maguire will be hoping for better fortune at this event, having struggled of late.
Four successive missed cuts have seen the Irish star slide to 87 in the world rankings.
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul fired a four-under-par 68 to edge into a slender lead as searing heat and humidity tested players in Texas.
The 22-year-old, who is chasing her first major victory after seven top-10 finishes, reeled off six birdies to move into a one-shot lead.
Jeeno’s only blemish on an otherwise flawless opening round was a double-bogey six at the par-four fourth hole of PGA Frisco’s 6,404-yard Fields Ranch East layout.
The rising Thai star, who has already amassed 18 wins as a professional including five on the LPGA Tour, said she had taken a patient approach after shrugging off her early double-bogey disappointment.
Jeeno was one shot clear of Australia’s Minjee Lee, who had a roller coaster round that included seven birdies and four bogeys en route to a three-under-par 69.
World number one Nelly Korda, meanwhile, is four off the pace after an opening level-par 72.
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Leona Maguire makes encouraging start at PGA Championship
IRELAND’S LEONA Maguire has made an encouraging start at the Women’s PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East in Texas.
The Cavan native finished the day on an even par 72, with many of her rivals yet to finish.
Paired with Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and USA’s Joanna Coe, Maguire produced a solid opening round.
A bogey on the fifth was the one blemish to her opening nine holes, before a birdie on the 11th left her inside the top 10 at one point.
Another birdie on the 14th moved her to one-under-par before a bogey on the 16th hampered Maguire’s progress.
The 30-year-old retained her composure after this setback to ensure she was in contention after the opening round.
Maguire will be hoping for better fortune at this event, having struggled of late.
Four successive missed cuts have seen the Irish star slide to 87 in the world rankings.
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul fired a four-under-par 68 to edge into a slender lead as searing heat and humidity tested players in Texas.
The 22-year-old, who is chasing her first major victory after seven top-10 finishes, reeled off six birdies to move into a one-shot lead.
Jeeno’s only blemish on an otherwise flawless opening round was a double-bogey six at the par-four fourth hole of PGA Frisco’s 6,404-yard Fields Ranch East layout.
The rising Thai star, who has already amassed 18 wins as a professional including five on the LPGA Tour, said she had taken a patient approach after shrugging off her early double-bogey disappointment.
Jeeno was one shot clear of Australia’s Minjee Lee, who had a roller coaster round that included seven birdies and four bogeys en route to a three-under-par 69.
World number one Nelly Korda, meanwhile, is four off the pace after an opening level-par 72.
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early promise encouraging start Golf leona maguire PGa Championship