Leona Maguire in the hunt in New Jersey as Stephanie Meadow's challenge fades
Leona Maguire is just four shots off the lead following an eventful second round at the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open on Friday in New Jersey.
The Cavan golfer posted a two-under 70 at Liberty National Golf Club after a round that featured six birdies and four bogeys - including a run of four birdies in six holes around the turn, between the seventh and the 12th.
She would have been a shot closer to joint leaders Minjee Lee and Cheyenne Knight were it not for a frustrating bogey five at the last, but the in-form Irish golfer is well-placed in a tie for 12th heading into the weekend.
It was a disappointing day for Stephanie Meadow. who couldn't back up her opening round 68, instead carding two double bogeys and four bogeys on her way to a five-over 77.
This leaves Meadow in a tie for 39th on one-over par.
Lee shot an eight-under-par 64 and Knight posted a four-under 68 to move into a tie for the lead
Fifth-ranked Australian Lee and Knight are at seven-under 137, after a eight-under 64 and four-under 68 respectively. They are a stroke ahead of world number three Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Ko finished her second straight 69 to get to six-under.
A fascinating collection of players was another stroke back at five-under, tied for fourth: world number one Jin Young Ko of South Korea (second-round 66), sixth-ranked Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand (71), Brooke M. Henderson of Canada (70), Aditi Ashok of India (72) and Rose Zhang (69).
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Zhang was the top-ranked amateur in women's golf until she turned pro last week. This tournament is her pro debut.
Lee birdied eight of her first 12 holes before cooling down and recording pars the rest of the way. She felt she played better on Thursday than her opening-round 73 indicated,