Leona Maguire joined amateur Aine Donegan in exiting the US Women’s Open after a nightmare three-hole stretch cost her five shots and undid all her hard work in Pennsylvania.
The Co Cavan star signed for a seven-over 77 to miss the cut by two shots on 10-over par alongside world number one Nelly Korda at Lancaster Country Club.
On a day when Co Clare amateur Donegan had 39 putts (including five three-putts) in an 83 to finish on 19-over, Maguire also had her problems on the difficult Lancaster greens.
Starting on the back nine, she battled to the turn in one over, making birdies at the 13th and 17th against bogeys at the 10th, 15th and 16th.
The two-time LPGA winner was just a shot outside the top 20 on four-over heading for home.
But back-to-back double bogeys at the third and fourth, followed by further dropped shots at the fifth and eighth, scuppered her hopes.
The trouble started when she went from a fairway to a greenside bunker and the 408-yard third and faced a five-footer for par.
But she three-putted from there, walking off with a double bogey six before she hit her tee shot into the water at the 348-yard fourth and made another double bogey six.
Inevitably, another shot went at the fifth, where she chipped five feet above the hole and failed to make the return putt and while she needed to play the last four holes in one-under to make the cut, another shot went at the par-three eighth.
The Ballyconnell battler wasn’t the only high-profile casualty, as Korda followed her opening 80 with a 70 to join her in missing out on 10-over.
Lexi Thompson, who announced this week she’ll retire at the end of the season, finished three shots further back after a 75 with Rose Zhang, defending champion Allisen Corpuz, as well as major champions Brooke Henderson and Patty Tavatanakit also heading for home.
Only four players are under par, headed by world number 158 Wichanee Meechai of Thailand, who started with four successive birdies and carded a three-under 67 to lead by two shots from Andrea Lee on four-under.
“To be honest, I don’t know who she was the first four holes, but I’m glad that she came,” said Meechai.
“I just know myself that I’m so nervous, I have adrenaline. The first four holes, I just picked the club that’s shorter and hit it hard.”
As Lee shot a second successive 69 to sit alone in second on two-under, the 2021 and 2022 US Women’s Open champions, Japan’s Yuka Saso and Australia’s Minjee Lee, are tied for third at one-under.