LPGABrian KeoghUS Women's Open, Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow

Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow clinch US Women's Open spots

LPGABrian KeoghUS Women's Open, Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow
Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow clinch US Women's Open spots
Stephanie Meadow

Stephanie Meadow

Team Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire came through Sectional Qualifiers for the US Women’s Open on Monday to secure their places at third major of the season at The Country Club of Charleston from May 30 to June 2.

Meadow won her qualifier at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Arizona, following a five-under 67 with a 71 to win by three strokes from Jimin Kang on six-under par. Scores

Fresh from her tied fifth place finish in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, Leona was in action at Druids Hills Golf Club in Atlanta en route to this week’s Symetra Tour stop int he IOA Invitational in nearby Milton.

She opened with a bogey free, six-under 66 to share the lead and followed that with a bogey-free 68 to finish second in the race for just two spots behind the Phillippines Yuka Saso on 10-under. Scores

Leona Maguire, pictured in Dubai last week

Leona Maguire, pictured in Dubai last week

Meadow, who lies 117th in the LPGA Tour money list this year, will be playing in her fifth US Women’s Open.

She was cut on her debut as an amateur in 2012 before finishing a sensational solo third, just three strokes behind Michelle Wie at Pinehurst No 2 in 2014 on her on professional debut..

Leona, who is up to 225th in the world will be making her major debut as a professional but not her first US Women’s Open appearance having missed the cut as an amateur in 2016 and 2017.

Neither Leona nor Stephanie are strangers to The Country Club of Charleston. They met there in the first round of the 2013 US Women’s Amateur, where Leona won 3&2 before going out to Alexandra Harkins, one down, in the last 32.

Meadow and Maguire received €20,000 each from Sport Ireland-funded Team Ireland on April 24 as part of a €176,000 grant allocation to 12 aspiring professionals.