Irish golfers Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh did not advance to the weekend rounds at the Ford Championship in Phoenix, marking their second consecutive missed cut on the LPGA Tour.
Maguire posted an even-par round of 72, bringing her tournament total to four-under par. However, the cut line was ultimately set at five-under par at Whirlwind Golf Club. Nelly Korda, following an impressive round of 65, seized a two-shot lead, reaching 16-under, ahead of Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.
LPGA rookie Lauren Walsh also carded a 72, finishing her tournament at one-under par. This marks her second missed cut in just three starts this season.
The five-under par cut-off notably ties for the lowest on the LPGA Tour since 1980, a mark last seen at The Standard Portland Classic.
Tournament leader Nelly Korda, whose 128 total established a new career best, commented on the challenging afternoon conditions. She explained, “It’s so much harder in the afternoon. The greens get so much bumpier… I feel like they were a foot faster this afternoon than they were yesterday. So adjusting to that, and then also the bounce. It’s just kind of like desert golf, you’re expecting it, but then more I think the thing that people struggle with is on the greens because they do really get bumpy in the afternoon.”
Meanwhile, sponsor’s invitee and rookie Asterisk Talley successfully navigated the course to make the cut, finishing at ten-under par.
