Leona Maguire: 'I hit some really good putts on the front nine, just burned the edge quite a few times'

ENCOURAGING START: Leona Maguire watches her drive on the eighth tee box during day one of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House Golf Club. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Leona Maguire’s bid to become the KPMG Women’s Irish Open’s first homegrown winner got off to an encouraging start at Carton House on Thursday but the tournament’s figurehead believes she has much more to give over the next three days.

Maguire, 29, will start Friday’s second round on Carton’s O’Meara course just two strokes off the overnight lead held jointly by Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, Ursula Wikstrom of Finland and Spaniard Luna Sobron Galmes at five under par. All three of the leaders are searching for their first Ladies European Tour victory but while the Cavan star’s bogey-free, three-under 70 was far from flawless after a frustrating afternoon with the putter it does give her an excellent opportunity to press her claims for a second LET win of the summer following her Aramco Series win in London in early July.