Leona six behind in Portugal

Leona Maguire stepped up the defence of her Portugese Ladies Open Amateur title in difficult conditions in Lisbon yesterday.

The 16-year-old star from Slieve Russsell posted a two over par 74, a score not bettered by any of the leading competitors for a 36-hole total of 146.

At the halfway stage she lies in joint sixth place, six strokes behind Roberta Roeller and just two adrift of the second placed player, Anne Hakula.

Leona’s twin sister, Lisa, is on 149 after a 76 yesterday. She was fuming with herself after double-bogeying the first and last holes.

Cork’s Gillian O’Leary is the best of the rest of the Irish with a score of 150 and joint 15th place. Jean O’Driscoll and Aedin Murphy from Carlow are on 154, with Paula Grant a shot further back.

Sarah Cunningham of Ennis improved by five strokes on her Thursday performance, firing a 78 but with a total of 161 looks out of contention.

Irish 36-hole totals

146 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 72,74; 149 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 73,76; 150 G O’Leary (Cork) 74,76; 154 J O’Driscoll (Muskerry) 76,78; A Murphy (Carlow) 77,77;155 P Grant (Lisburn) 73,82, L Simpson (Massareene) 78,77; 161 S Cunningham (Ennis) 83,78; 163 L Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 80,83; 164 V Bradshaw (Bangor) 79,85; 166 J Carty (Holywood) 80, 86.