Kearney and Power look to golden opportunities; Leona chasing Nelly

Niall Kearney. Picture: Getty Images

Niall Kearney and Seamus Power are looking to cash in on golden opportunities to grab maiden wins on either side of the Atlantic.

Dubliner Kearney birdied the ninth to complete a bogey-free, first round 65, then made five birdies in a 68 to take a two-shot lead at halfway in the BMW International Open in Munich. Scores

Some 6,300 km away, Power finished birdie-birdie to shoot a three-under 67 in the $7.4 million Travelers Championship in Hartford and finish the day in a seven-way tie for fourth, just two shots behind Jason Day. Scores

"I just feel really fresh," said Kearney (33), who claimed his first career top-10 in last month's Canary Islands Championship.

"I've been home the last couple of weeks and I've had plenty of time to rest. I had been travelling prior to that quite a bit and it was great just to get home and recharge and then get back out.

"The course is fantastic and it suits my eye. It's old-fashioned with avenues and it's quite tight off the tee and I am really enjoying it."

Leading by two shots on 11-under from a chasing pack that includes world No 14 Viktor Hovland and eight-time European Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger, he can become Europe's latest fairytale winner.

"Yes, it's a great opportunity," he said. "This year has been great for me. I am getting lots of starts in really nice tournaments and I have obviously got to try and take the opportunities as well. I got off to a decent start down in Spain in the Canaries, and I'm trying to march on from there, really."

Pádraig Harrington made late eagles at the fourth and sixth in a brave effort to make the two-under cut but missed by a shot after a 71 as Caldwell shot 75 and Paul Dunne 73 to also miss out.

"I've played plenty with Padraig, he's very competitive and tries his hardest out there, even though he wasn't quite on it this week,” Wiesberger said. “But you can see, all of a sudden he makes a couple of eagles and you see it in his eyes. He was very focused on what he was doing.

"Hopefully the odd shot I hit over the last two days maybe stayed in the back of his mind, but at the end of the day we're still trying to compete out here. He has his stuff figured out off the golf course and results will hopefully determine who will be on his team. It was a pleasure playing with him, there's a lot to take from his demeanour out on the course."

It was also an excellent day for Power (34), whose three-under 67 at TPC River Highlands left him tied third with Russell Henley and Kevin Kisner on seven-under, just a shot behind three-time Travelers Championship winner Watson.

Power’s good form has been brewing since last year but only now has he been able to see the fruits of his practice.

“Yeah, to be honest, it was really in the fall,” said Power, who's had two top-10s and a top-20 in his last four starts since returning to full practice in March following elbow surgery last year. “Like it didn't show because we didn't get many events in the fall, but like since the COVID return my game has been pretty good. I really struggled. I had a lot of elbow pain in the fall, which really kind of -- wasn't able to kind of show off. I knew my game was going to be in a good way, but then I was able to get my surgery done.

“Once I kind of got back into full practice, maybe February, March, it was in a good spot. It's just when it was kind feel comfortable. I know when I hit a poor shot I know where it's coming from for probably the first time in a long time So, yeah, just been able to put stuff together.”

While a poor finish put paid to his chances of a maiden win in the Palmetto Championship two weeks ago, he feels he's getting closer.

"Hopefully I will be in a decent spot here on the back nine on Sunday, and let's see if I can push on," he said.

Brimming with confidence after Monday qualifying for the second time in six weeks, he sees his improved iron play as key.

"My irons have been very good," said Power. "Last couple years, even after hitting a good tee shot, I would put it to 25 feet, and you just don't make a lot of 25-footers."

In the KPMG Women's PGA in Atlanta, Leona Maguire made four birdies and a double bogey in a two-under 70 to share 27th on two-under as Stephanie Meadow shot a flawless, three-under 69 but missed the two-over cut by a shot. Scores

Nelly Korda, who denied Maguire in the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan last week, fired 10 birdies in a 63 to lead by a shot from Lizette Salas with the Co Cavan star tied 27th.

Meanwhile, Paul McBride (68) was seven shots behind Jerome Lando Casanova and Julien Brun on one-under in the Challenge Tour's Open de Bretagne, with Gavin Moynihan (68) and Cameron Raymond (75) level par. Scores