Ireland’s Leona Maguire and 21-year-old English amateur Lottie Woad remain contenders halfway through the Evian Championship, the fourth women’s major of the year held in France. Both players continue to chase the lead as the tournament progresses, aiming to capitalize on their solid performances so far.
South Korea’s Somi Lee leads the field with a 10-under total after posting a second-round 65. Maguire recorded a level-par 71, while Woad carded a two-under 69, placing them four and five shots behind Lee respectively.
Challenges and Highlights from the Second Round
Maguire, who began the day sharing the lead, finished in a tie for seventh place after an inconsistent round. Though she made birdies on holes two, 15, and 17, bogeys on eight, 16, and 18 balanced out her score. Meanwhile, Woad finished the round strongly, making birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to comfortably secure her place after the cut.
Woad, competing as an amateur, demonstrated impressive form, having recently earned her first professional victory at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. Reflecting on her position in the top 12, she said,
“I’m only, like, five back. Yeah, just trying to play well tomorrow and see what happens.” —Lottie Woad, Amateur Golfer
This marks Woad’s fourth successful cut in seven major appearances, underscoring her rising profile in women’s golf.
Key Competitors and Standings Near the Cutoff
Sharing Woad’s five-under total is world number one Nelly Korda, who posted a two-under 70 in the second round. Another notable contender is Jeeno Thitikul, sitting at six under following back-to-back rounds of 68.
Friday’s standout performance belonged to Somi Lee, who surged ahead with six birdies and an eagle, ultimately taking a narrow one-stroke lead over Australia’s Grace Kim. Lee’s front nine included two birdies and an eagle, and she closed the round on a high note with four birdies on the back nine, demonstrating exceptional putting and driving rhythm despite some less-than-ideal tee shots.
“Tee shots are really important on this course, but mine weren’t great today,”
Lee explained.
“Right now, I’m concentrating on my putter and driver, keeping my rhythm – and we’ll see where that takes me.” —Somi Lee, Leader
Other Notable Players and Missed Cuts
Grace Kim secured second place with a nine-under 68, while Jennifer Kupcho, one of four players sharing the lead overnight, fell back two shots to third place by the end of day two. Some top-ranked players including Lydia Ko, Ruoning Yin, and US Women’s Open champion Maja Stark missed the two-over cut, narrowing the competition for the weekend rounds.
Looking Ahead: Weekend Prospects at the Evian Championship
As the Evian Championship progresses, the race remains tight among a mix of established stars and emerging talents like Maguire and Woad. Their ongoing presence near the top of the leaderboard highlights their potential to challenge for a major title this season. Fans can continue to follow live coverage through Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Mix, with streaming options available for uninterrupted viewing throughout the weekend.
The performances so far emphasize the competitive depth and unpredictability of this major, setting the stage for an exciting finish in France.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What rank is Leona Maguire?
A. Maguire’s new ranking is 174, showing she moved up 440 spots after becoming a professional player.
On October 6, Maguire earned her spot in the 2020 LPGA Tour by placing seventh on the Symetra Tour’s money list.
Q. What does Leona Maguire’s sister do?
A. When she was 9, she stopped swimming to focus on golf after she broke her arm in the playground. She is 15 minutes older than her twin sister Leona, who is also a professional golfer.
Q. What happened to Leona Maguire’s sister?
A. I met Leona’s twin sister, Lisa, earlier while Leona was busy with a photo session. Lisa began her professional career in 2018, just like her sister. However, Lisa retired the following year. She recently finished dental school and will start working in Cork before the year ends.