Leona Maguire makes fast start in Cincinnati

Leona Maguire put her Solheim Cup controversy behind her to make a brilliant start at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati.

The Cavan golfer, who found herself in the headlines after playing just twice in the defeat to the USA last weekend, was five-under par after her opening 18 holes with an eagle at the par-five sixth setting her on a run that saw her pick up a further four birdies and a bogey over the next eight holes.

That left her two adrift of first-round leader Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa who played some sensational golf.

Coming into the event, Maguire had admitted that it had been a disappointment to be left out of three sessions after playing all 10 in her first two appearances in the biennial contest, winning seven and a half points in the process.

FULL LEADERBOARD

"I feel like I've been playing really great golf all week in practice and it was a bitter pill to swallow to be sat out for as many sessions as I was."