Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh make solid starts at Women's Open
Japan's Eri Okayama, who only qualified last month, leads the way on four-under par after 13 holes with the second wave, including Ireland's Anna Foster, starting their rounds.
The clubhouse lead in Wales is shared by Japanese trio of Shiho Kuwaki, Mao Saigo and Chisato Iwai on three-under par.
Maguire started the final major of the season with a bogey at the first with another following at the fourth, but the Cavan woman rolled in a good birdie putt at the fifth before adding another at the par-five ninth to turn in level par.
Her back nine would mirror her front with a pair of bogeys – at the 11th and 14th – being blotted out by birdies at the 15th and 18th.
Walsh, showing fine form in 2025 on the Ladies European Tour, also turned in level-par after a bogey at two and a birdie at a very generous ninth hole that had coughed up a couple of eagles on Thursday. She briefly moved under par at the 11th before instantly giving that shot back, parring out from there.
Okayama turned in a blistering 32, her card containing four birdies and no dropped shots before a run of pars to start her back nine.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Maguire slips back as Yamashita carries narrow lead into final day at Women's Open
Leona Maguire found little momentum at all as moving day at the Women's Open say the Cavan golfer head backwards after a frustrating three-over 75 in Wales. Maguire found just a solitary birdie, arriving as early as the second hole, and after that was mostly in scrambling mode as she slid down to a tie for 59th on four-over overall, a baker's dozen back from leader Miyu Yamashita. England's Charley Hull climbed into contention after a superb third-round 66 left her three shots behind Yamashita. Hull began the day at Royal Porthcawl on even-par, 11 shots off the lead, but launched her charge with seven birdies and one bogey as her six-under score catapulted her up the leaderboard into a tie for fourth place. Japan's Yamashita, who led by three shots overnight after a bogey-free 65 on Friday, carded a two-over 74 and saw her lead cut to one shot after South Korea's Kim A-lim posted a five-under 67 to climb into outright second. American Andrea Lee also shot a 67 and sits third, while Japan's Minami Katsu sank seven birdies and an eagle for a brilliant 65 - spoilt by two birdies - to climb alongside Hull, American Megan Khang (68) and Rio Takeda (74). When world number 20 Hull was asked if she would go for victory on Sunday, she told the media: "Yeah, 100 per cent. I've got nothing to lose have I? "I hit it in the bunker on the first and made a good up and down there. Then I just made birdies when I gave myself an opportunity to make a birdie, apart from the last hole. "I just kind of enjoy chasing. It's quite fun. I like it. It's more fun that way. I like hunting someone down." England's Georgia Hall, Open winner in 2018, also climbed up the leaderboard, a four-under 68 leaving her tied in eighth place with Taiwan's Hsu Wei-ling (69) and Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini (72). Lottie Woad, in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, is a shot further back on three under after shooting a 71. The pre-tournament favourite from Surrey, who birdied the final hole after squandering several other chances, is among a group of seven tied in 11th after her one-under round alongside England's Mimi Rhodes (70). World number one Nelly Korda finished two over for the day after a 74 and sits in a group tied in 36th place, which includes New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko (70).
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Leona Maguire falters as Miya Yamushita hangs on to slim lead at AIG Women's Open
Ireland's Leona Maguire slid down the leaderboard after a third round of three-over-par 75, as overnight leader Miyu Yamushita's advantage was cut down to one shot heading into the final day's play at the AIG Women's Open at Royal Portcawl. Maguire had to make do with just one birdie on a frustrating day on the links in the toughest conditions of the week so far. The Cavan golfer started with a bogey on one but bounced back with a birdie at the par four second hole. However that would be as good as it got for Maguire. Bogeys on seven and ten were compounded with another bogey on the tricky 17th hole to see Maguire sign for a 75. Miyu Yamushita also had to contend for an over-par round, shooting a round of 74, but will be relieved to remain one shot clear heading into the final round. The Japanese golfer was chased down by Korea's A-Lim Kim (eight-under-par) and America's Andrea Lee (seven-under-par) who both shot rounds of 65s to get within reach. England's Charlie Hull is a shot further back on six-under-par.
The 42
a day ago
- The 42
Miyu Yamashita sets pace at Women's Open as Leona Maguire makes cut
IRELAND'S LEONA Maguire made the cut while Lottie Woad lost further ground at the AIG Women's Open after a triple bogey in her second-round score of 70 left her nine shots behind leader Miyu Yamashita on two under. The Cavan native is tied for 37th on one over par after a 73 on day two. The 30-year-old registered a birdie on the sixth hole, but bogeys on the 11th and 16th left her trailing Yamashita by 12 shots. Both Maguire and fellow Irish star Lauren Walsh began with even-par opening rounds of 72. Dubliner Walsh had a difficult day two as she finished just below the projected cut line on three over par. The 24-year-old struggled for consistency, registering four birdies and seven bogeys, resulting in a second-round score of 75 that left her tied for 71st. Woad, tournament favourite in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, was on the charge after her sixth birdie of the day at the 14th before suffering a big setback at the par-four 16th. Advertisement Japan's Yamashita followed her first-round 68 with a bogey-free 65 to open up a three-shot lead over compatriot and joint overnight leader Rio Takeda, who carded a 69 on another blustery day at Royal Porthcawl. Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn and American Lindy Duncan are all tied for third, four shots further back on four under. Another big group, including 2021 Women's Open winner Madelene Sagstrom and Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck – still out on the course having played 12 holes – are tied on three under. Woad, Wales' Darcey Harry and American world number one Nelly Korda are among another group of eight, are tied in 11th on two under. Surrey's Woad, who also won the Irish Open and finished tied for third at The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur, began the day five shots behind the leaders after a first-round level-par 72. The 21-year-old parred the first five holes on Friday before birdies at the sixth and eighth took her to the turn on two under. Four more birdies and a bogey in the next five holes lifted her up to fifth on the leaderboard on five under, but after another par at the 15th, a penalty drop at the 16th, where she two-putted after chipping on to the green, saw her drop three shots. Woad told Sky Sports: 'It's probably playing the toughest hole of the day. I hit a good drive but pushed the three-wood a bit and it went in the one thick bit over there. 'I got a bit unlucky with that but then took my medicine afterwards and ended up making a seven. 'I'm happy with how I recovered after it. I was a bit angry after that but I just had to move on quickly.' Woad parred the final two holes – she missed a birdie putt on the 18th – to finish the second round alongside 22-year-old Harry as the highest-placed home nations players. Harry followed up her opening-round 70 with a 72, which could have been better but for double bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Mimi Rhodes, the leading Brit heading into the day after an opening-round 69, carded a 74 to sit in a big group tied in 19th place on one under, while Charley Hull is a shot further back, tied in 29th place, after she birdied the last for a 71. New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko slipped out of contention after posting a second successive 73 to sit two over, while American Lillia Vu, the 2023 Open champion, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 left her seven over. You can view the full leaderboard here.
