Golf

Leona Maguire to take one-shot lead into final round of Women’s PGA Championship with Stephanie Meadow just two behind

Cavan's Leona Maguire is the leader going into the final day of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament in Springfield, New Jersey
Cavan's Leona Maguire is the leader going into the final day of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament in Springfield, New Jersey Cavan's Leona Maguire is the leader going into the final day of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament in Springfield, New Jersey

Leona Maguire will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in New Jersey as she seeks to become the first Irish woman to win a major.

The 28-year-old, who won the Meijer LPGA Classic last week, holds the 54-hole lead in a major for the first time in her career.

Maguire would have had a bigger advantage had she not dropped her second shot of the day at Baltusrol at the 17th.

However, she two-putted from distance at the last, also a par five, to regain the stroke to sign for a 69 – her eighth successive round in the 60s – and edge her back in front on seven under.

Two shots behind is Jordanstown's Stephanie Meadow who is seeking her best finish at a major since her third place at the 2014 US Women's Open. She sits at five under following a 67 on Saturday.

Between Maguire and Meadow is Japan’s Jenny Shin on six under in second place and with the LGPA deciding the have final round groups of three, the two Irish contenders will be in the same group on Sunday evening, teeing off at 5.38pm.

“It was a little bit more of a mixed bag then the first two two days but I felt I hung in well,” Maguire, who had four birdies in addition to her two bogeys, said in her post-round interview.

“It’s always nice to finish with a birdie. The gameplan is the same as the last three days, if it’s enough, it’s enough. My game’s in good shape.”

Read more: Stunning Leona Maguire wins Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan

On potentially being the first Irish winner of a women’s major, the Cavan woman added: “I know it would mean a lot but I try not to get too ahead of myself. Whatever will be, will be.”

England’s Mel Reid, who finished the second around just a shot off the lead nine months after quitting the sport, found the going tough on day three as she slipped to two over after a 77, which included a one-stroke penalty for deliberately lifting her ball after not realising it was not on the green at the fifth.