Leona Maguire one shot off lead at Pelican Women’s Championship halfway stage

Mel Reid almost equalled the tournament record with her second round score

(Getty Images)

Ireland’s Leona Maguire could not quite repeat her first round heroics but sat just a shot off the pace at the halfway stage of the Pelican Women’s Championship.

Maguire carded a tournament record of eight-under 62 on Thursday but could manage only a two-under 68 in Belleair, Florida, on Friday.

Four birdies were offset by two bogeys, including a five at the 18th which dropped Maguire from a three-way share of first into equal-third with Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-Ling, who had a 64.

Sharing the lead at 11-under were Americans Jennifer Kupcho and Lexi Thompson, who both carded second round 64s, while five players were tied for fifth at nine-under including South Korea’s Lee Mi Hyang, who on Friday matched Maguire’s 62.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff was the best-placed Briton after rounds of 72-64 left her seven off the pace in equal 29th.

England’s Mel Reid came within a shot of matching the new tournament record, improving drastically from an opening 75 to card a 63 which put her nine off the lead in a share of 46th.

PA