Leona Maguire wrapped up a memorable 2022 season with a fourth-place finish in the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana in Spain. She stood two strokes off the low score, which belonged jointly to Caroline Hedwall and Morgane Metraux. Hedwall won the playoff.
Maguire was always in contention as she posted rounds of 68, 69, 70 and 69. She limited her bogeys to just two over 72 holes. She feasted on the par-3 third and par-4 fourth holes, ringing up three birdies on each.
Maguire will now relax at home in Ireland, returning to the links in January when tournament play resumes.
DP WORLD TOUR
Tom McKibbin’s first event as a full-fledged member of the DP World Tour went splendidly as he finished tied for 18th place in the Joburg Open in South Africa. A third-round 74 was the only blight. Otherwise, he shot 68, 67 and 66. At 9-under-par, he was 12 strokes off the winning number posted by England’s Dan Bradbury, who won this event in just his third spin on this circuit, playing on a sponsor’s invitation.
McKibbin was a bit streaky at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, especially on Sunday, when he opened with three straight birdies. He gave those back, however, with a bogey and double bogey at the eighth and ninth holes, respectively. But then he went on another tear beginning at 11, where he took the first of four consecutive birdies.
John Murphy looked for awhile as if he might provide some company for McKibbin. His first-round 68 was promising but he came unglued with 76 on Friday. As a result, he missed the cut by two strokes.
The Irish duo will stay in the southern hemisphere for this week’s South African Open. They will be joined by Gary Hurley.
