Maguire's 63 moves her up Irish Open leaderboard
Leona Maguire shot a nine-under-par 63 in the third round of the Women's Irish Open. She moved into a tie for sixth place, seven shots behind leader Casandra Alexander. Alexander holds a three-shot lead over Sara Kouskova.
Maguire's bogey-free round marked a dramatic turnaround from her opening two days, when she posted identical 71s. Her 63 matched Kajsa Arwefjaell for the low round of the day, though the Swede also climbed to third place. The Cavan native's charge included three separate stretches of consecutive birdies, and she narrowly missed a 62 on the final green.
Play was briefly halted in the afternoon as heavy rain created puddles across the K Club course. Alexander, who has led since Thursday, managed a 69 despite the conditions to maintain her advantage. Anna Foster posted the next-best Irish score with a 66, moving to seven under, while several other Irish players remain further down the leaderboard.
This performance could boost interest in women's golf in Ireland, particularly with a home player contending on the final day. Maguire's resurgence may inspire younger players and draw larger crowds to the K Club, while a strong finish could raise her profile ahead of future Solheim Cup selections. The tournament's competitive leaderboard may also help sustain media attention on the Ladies European Tour, potentially benefiting sponsors and broadcasters who rely on compelling storylines to grow the sport's audience.