South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace still in contention after second round of Women's PGA Championship

South African golfer Lee-Anne Pace was in third place after the second round of the Women's PGA Championship as Ireland's Leona Maguire birdied three of her last four holes to lead the field.

Maguire, who started the day three behind Pace, who led after round one, shook off a slow start that saw her par her first five holes before a bogey at the 15th.

She responded with a birdie at the 17th and grabbed another at the fourth before a bogey at the fifth.

Then she cantered home with birdies at the sixth, seventh and ninth to card a three-under 68.

Her five-under total of 137 put her one clear of a group of three on 138: England's Mel Reid, Norway's Celine Borge and China's Lin Xiyu.

Pace is one shot further back on 139 after she posted a two-over 73. 

"Really happy with how I played today," Maguire said. "Weather was a little bit trickier today, especially on the back nine when that rain came in.

"Didn't really hole any putts on the front side, but nice to get those three birdies coming in," added Maguire, who said a solid hybrid into the ninth gave her a comfortable seven-footer uphill putt to finish.

Maguire arrived in Springfield, New Jersey, riding the momentum of her second LPGA title at the Meijer Classic on Sunday.

Chasing a first major, however, requires a different mindset, she said.

"This is uncharted territory for me. Whatever happens this week, I'm sure I'll learn a lot and just sort of taking it one day at a time," she said.

"I think this golf course demands that. I think you can't think more than one shot ahead, let alone a hole or a round ahead."

Maguire's European Solheim Cup teammate Reid was delighted to hit 18 greens in regulation on what she called a "beast of a golf course."

"The rough is really obviously thick,"