Stephanie Meadow slips back at Women's Open as Amy Ewing surges clear

Stephanie Meadow has dropped down the leaderboard at the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath, with Leona Maguire also struggling during the second round of the final major of the year.

Having been three shots off the lead after the opening round, the Co. Antrim competitor now finds herself 11 adrift of Amy Ewing at the head of the leaderboard. Meadow's round of 74 included birdies on three and five, this after dropping shots on the second and fourth holes.

A run of pars followed from the sixth before she gave up another shot on 14. Meadow's round concluded with a bogey at the last as she ended up on one over at the half-way mark. The projected cut currently stands at +3.

Leona Maguire is currently out on the course and also stands at one over with three holes to play.

Amateur Anna Foster posted a second round of 75 to finish 18 over.

American Amy Ewing, who held a one-shot lead following an opening 68 completed late on Thursday, was among the early starters on Friday and stormed clear of the field with a birdie on the third and four in a row from the sixth to be out in 30.

The 30-year-old from Mississippi also picked up further shots on the 11th and 16th before dropping her only shot of the day on the last to complete a superb 66.

Ewing enjoys a five-shot lead over compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan's Minami Katsu, with South Korea's Kim Hyo-Joo and Lilia Vu and the USA's another stroke back on four under.

Additional reporting PA

LEADERBOARD