'We'll try and make her sweat' - Leona Maguire seven behind Alexander after stunning 63
Casandra Alexander of South Africa. Credit: Mark Runnacles/LET
Leona Maguire might be seven shots behind leader Casandra Alexander but she's hoping to make the South African "sweat" after a stunning 63 catapulted her into the mix in the KPMG Women's Irish Open at The K Club.
The Cavan star took advantage of preferred lies and her bogey-free, nine-under-par round was just the boost she needed in her penultimate round before the Solheim Cup.
Maguire has missed 11 cuts this year, including six of the last eight as she works through major swing changes she started making with Tiger Woods' former coach, Sean Foley, at the end of last year.
She knew it might take 18 months to two years to get her swing where she wants it, and her 63 was just the tonic as she prepares to head to the Netherlands to take on the USA.
"Yeah, I knew there was a low one out there, and honestly, I didn't really play that much better today than I did yesterday," said Maguire, who lies tied for sixth on 11-under and will go out in the penultimate group.
"It's probably going to need another low one [to have a chance], but the goal was to get to double digits, and we did that part."
Alexander was five shots clear through nine holes when play was suspended for 45 minutes due to waterlogging at the Palmer South Course.
But the 27-year-old was not quite the same after the restart and went on to card a three-under 69 to lead by three shots on 18-under from Czechia's Sara Kouskova (67) and by five from Sweden's Kajsa Arwefjal (63).
While winning might be a big ask, Maguire will be trying to put the leader under pressure with another low round.
Leona Maguire and caddie Simon Keelan. Credit: Mark Runnacles/LET
"It's nice to put a really low, low one together," she said. "Haven't done that in a while, and I knew it was there, but you still have to go and do it. So very positive momentum heading into Solheim next week.
"I think it would have been very easy yesterday evening to get down on myself and frustrated at all the missed opportunities. I just had to look at today as another opportunity to keep fine-tuning and test it where it's at."
Alexander has finished second six times this year and may feel the pressure should Maguire make a fast start.
"We'll see what the weather is, but it's going to take more of the same and try and get as close to 20 under par as we can and see where it leads us," Maguire added.
"She obviously hits it far. She's going to make a lot of birdies, but we'll try and make her sweat and see what happens."
As for her swing changes, she knew before she decided to make them that it was going to try her patience.
"Yeah, but I think I've been in a better headspace, and I've had the patience," she explained. "I haven't been getting as frustrated with it as maybe I have in the past. So, a bit more perspective and knowing that it will take a little time, but I think it'll be worth it.
"Sean said in the beginning that ideally it would take two years, but there have been sparks of it on any given week."
Alexander was three under through the turn, but while she stalled after the delay and became impatient as she struggled to adjust to slower greens, she would have taken a three-shot lead through 54 holes at the start of the week,
"One hundred per cent," she said. "Hopefully, we can extend the lead a little bit more early on in the round tomorrow, but we'll see what happens.
"Winning is the number one goal. We've come second too many times. We've never been in this position. I just want to maximise birdie opportunities, hole a few putts, and get the job done.
"If someone comes out and shoots lights out, and that's the situation, that's something I can't control.
"So I'm just going to go out there tomorrow and give it my best and see if it's enough."
As for the other Irish, Anna Foster shot 66 to move up to 15th on seven-under.
Lauren Walsh made eight birdies in a 67 and was left to rue adding a triple bogey seven at the fourth to two double bogeys and a triple bogey in the first two rounds.
She's tied for 24th on five-under with Co Clare's Aine Donegan, who shot 69, but Canice Screene took ten at the par-five 18th and signed for a 76 that left her 48th on one-under,
Castlerock's Annabel Wilson also fell back, carding a 73 to share 52nd on level par.
Meanwhile, Gary Hurley leads the Irish challenge in the HotelPlanner Tour's Dormy Open in Sweden.
Five birdies in his last six holes allowed him to shoot a level par 70 at Kristianstad Golf Club and head into the final round tied for 15th.
He's six shots behind leader Christofer Blomstrand of Sweden on two under, with Mark Power 27th on level par after a 68.
