LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Ireland’s Leona Maguire overcame blustery conditions to fire a three-under par 69 and advance to this weekend’s LPGA Match Play quarterfinals as the top seed.
In chilly, windswept conditions at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Maguire produced a birdie-birdie finish to ease into the last eight after 54 holes.
This year’s event was revamped as a hybrid tournament combining three rounds of stroke play before the top eight on the leaderboard face off in a straight knockout match play competition.
Maguire’s 69 left her with a six-under aggregate of 210, three clear of Japan’s Minami Katsu, who shot a level-par 72 to finish tied for second on three-under alongside Angel Yin and Rose Zhang of the United States.
“Going out we knew it was going to be tough, and was going to test all aspects of the game,” Maguire said of the strong winds that buffeted the course early in the day.
“As much of a mental challenge as anything out there. It’s a major championship golf course, and when there’s a 39-mph wind blowing and it’s swirling, you have to be even more committed.”
South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young crept into the quarterfinals with a two-over 74, struggling into the weekend after a third round that included five bogeys.
