Maguire and Meadow bounce back in Rio

Leona Maguire resurrected her Olympic medal bid at Reserva de Marapendi as both she and fellow Irish golfer Stephanie Meadow yesterday rebounded from disappointing opening rounds.

In the second round of the women’s strokeplay event, world number one amateur Maguire shot a six-under-par 65 to bounce back from a three-over first round 74. It moves her seven shots back from halfway leader Inbee Park of South Korea.

Maguire’s was not the round of the day — that belonged to American Stacy Lewis, whose 11-birdie 63 propelled her into the silver medal position at nine under, one behind Park, who shot a 66. Yet her seven birdies, including at the last, and just one dropped shot, has given impetus to the Cavan golfer, whose twin sister Lisa is her caddie in Rio, heading into the weekend’s play.

“I left a few out there coming in, 15, 16, 17, missed a few short ones but I’m very happy with that,” Maguire told RTÉ. “That was the target: Shoot a low one if possible and get myself back into it and that’s what I did.”

Portrush golfer Meadow also regained momentum heading into the final two rounds, putting her opening round 77 behind her with a five-under 66 yesterday.

Professional Meadow’s birdies came in bunches, three in her opening five holes before a bogey at 11 momentarily checked her progress. She bounced back in style, though, with three birdies in a row on the 15th, 16th, and 17th that leave her one over par in a tie for 38th with 36 holes to play.