Cool Hand Lowry

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Shane Lowry is relishing being in contention for a maiden major title after making the cut in the US Open for the first time.

The Irishman missed the cut at Congressional in 2011 and Pinehurst last year, but he is finding Chambers Bay more to his liking as he added a second round of 70 to his opening 69 to reach one under at the halfway stage.

"I was going along nicely and missed a great chance on 12," Lowry said after a round containing three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey. "I thought if I hit a great putt there to get to three under for the tournament I would have been cruising.

It's a bit early to be talking about winning. There's lots of golf to be played yet, so I need to just keep doing my own thing

"Then I felt I got unlucky on 14 and just pulled my second shot. Got an awful lie in the bunker and ended up making double from there.

"I hit a great shot into 15, great shot into 16 (without making birdie) and made a great putt for par for 17 from 10 feet. That was massive in regards to the whole round and then I went on to birdie the last, which was nice.

"It was one of those days that I'm quite happy with. It could have been a little bit better, but I'm in a great position for the weekend.

"The good thing for me is I'm feeling a bit more comfortable on the greens. Not 100 per cent, but I'm liking what I'm doing and liking the way I'm hitting my putts.

"It's a bit early to be talking about winning. There's lots of golf to be played yet, so I need to just keep doing my own thing. I'm driving the ball well. My iron play is good. My putting is getting to where I want it. You never know what can happen on Sunday.

"I felt quite in control of myself all day yesterday and today. It feels good to be here and feeling like the way I felt the last couple of days.

"I was in control of myself, my emotions and everything. I just need to keep that intact the next few days."

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Meadow Clinches Third at Pinehurst

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Stephanie Meadow, in her first professional tournament, finished third in the US Women's Open on Sunday - three shots behind tournament winner Michelle Wie - thanks to a final-round 69.

Ahead of the event Meadow, originally from Jordanstown,  called upon advice from Rory McIlroy on how to play Pinehurst after he competed in the men's US Open on the course last week.

On Saturday Meadow forced her way into the penultimate group for Sundays final round on the notoriously difficult Pinehurst No 2 course. Tied third with Julie Inkster on two-over through 54 holes, Meadow teed it up with the seven-times Major Champion and Solheim Cup veteran for the final round.

Though Inkster faded out of contention, Meadow recovered from a couple of bogeys on her outward nine by landing a fabulous eagle three at 10. A phenomenally successful start to her new career, ensuring Meadow will hit the ground running in professional golf.

Meadow completed a glittering amateur career a fortnight ago by finishing as the joint top-scorer on the British and Irish team beaten in the Curtis Cup at St Louis Country Club.

A record-breaking nine-time winner during her four years on scholarship at the University of Alabama and a leading member of the Crimson Tide's National Championship-winning team two years ago, Meadow made it through to the US Women's Open as a first-alternative in a recent qualifier.

"I waited probably three weeks when we were at a training camp in Atlanta for the Curtis Cup and I got a phone call," she explained. "It was from New Jersey, and I'm thinking, 'Okay, this is the USGA'. And I'm thinking, please don't be about Curtis Cup, please be about US Open. To start my professional career here is so amazing. I'm so blessed that it happened.''

Meadow has been based in the States since age 14, when she joined the Hank Haney Junior Golf Academy in Sea Island, Georgia. She's accompanied at Pinehurst by her dad Robert and mother Louise.

After opening with a one-over-par 71 last Thursday, Meadow followed up with a 72 on Friday before Saturday's 69 propelled her to within four strokes of 54-hole leaders Michelle Wie and Korea's Amy Yang.

"I didn't really have expectations," said Meadow of her mission at the US Open. "I just wanted to go out and see where I was. I knew I was playing well.''

"I knew that my game could be up here against the best in the world and I've proven that, obviously."

Meanwhile Wie won her first major title with a two-stroke triumph over world number one Stacy Lewis in the US Women's Open at Pinehurst.

Joint overnight leader Wie, 24, carded a level-par 70 to see off the challenge of Lewis, who posted a 66.

South Korean Amy Yang, playing with Wie, fell away with a 74.

"I had a lot of fun," Wie said. "I walked up 18 with goose bumps and kind of had the same putt as Martin [Kaymer had to win the men's US Open last week]. I didn't hit as hard as him though.

"There were moments of doubt [during my career] but all the people around me never lost faith in me."

Wie burst on to the scene a decade ago by playing men's tournaments as a teenager. She failed to make a cut in her first seven tournaments but came back into form earlier this year with her first win in three seasons in April.

The Hawaiian's renewed confidence showed early in the final round at Pinehurst as Yang gave in to the pressure of playing in the lead group.

Wie holed out bravely for double bogey on 16 after he approach shot landed in a bush, ensuring she stayed a stroke ahead of Lewis.

However a superb birdie putt at the par-three 17th followed and, with her swagger back, Wie drilled her final drive down the last to set up a closing par and the victory.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew equalled Lewis' final-round best to finish tied-10th on five over par, though it was Meadow's stunning performance that most impressed of the British contingent.

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Meadow Opens Strong at Pinehurst

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Stephanie Meadow will start her second round of the US Women’s Open four shots off the lead after completing a weather interrupted opening round of 71 at Pinehurst No 2 in North Carolina.

The Royal Portrush golfer, making her debut in the professional ranks, resumed this morning on level par with two holes left to play but a dropped shot on the 17th saw her slip into a share of eighth place, four behind the overnight leader Stacy Lewis.

Meadow, who turned professional after the Curtis Cup earlier this week, made a flying start to life in the paid ranks and reached the turn in two under. And while three bogeys on the way home undid much of that good work, Meadow can be more than satisfied with her play at the challenging Pinehurst layout.

Lewis by one stroke after shooting 67 while 11-year-old Lucy Li shot an eight over 78 yesterday. The top-ranked women’s player in the world found three birdies on her way around and her fellow American Michelle Wie is a shot back after mixing five birdies with two bogeys.

Yet the main focus at the Pinehurst Resort was on the exploits of Li — at 11 the youngest qualifier to compete at the US Women’s Open after beating the record of Lexi Thompson, who qualified for the 2007 tournament aged 12.

The Californian amateur, who signed for birdies on the first and fifth holes but added three bogeys, two double bogeys and triple bogey to her card, trails Lewis by 11 shots.

“It was a lot of fun,” Li said of her round. “I kind of struggled today, but it was great.”

More than a dozen players failed to break 80. “I’m happy I broke 80,” Li added, “because I got two doubles and a triple and that can really ruin a score.”

“I guess I am glad that I got it over with, but I’m also excited for tomorrow.”

Asked what her plan was for the rest of the day, Li grinned and said, “Eat some more ice cream.”

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