Paul McGinley full of praise for Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow

Hopes of an Irish Olympic medal faded in the Women’s Individual Stroke Play in Rio, but team captain Paul McGinley immediately praised Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow.

Out in two under par alongside world No 1 Lydia Ko, and No 4 Lexi Thompson, world No 1 amateur Maguire was inside the top 15 and cruising comfortably.

But her hopes of a podium finished ended on the back nine when she made five bogeys in her last seven holes in a homeward 41 and carded a three over 74 to slip from 22nd to 24th on level par.