After 36 holes in the eighth annual IOA Golf Classic presented by RP Funding at Alaqua Country Club, Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough, England) leads the way at 10-under par overall. She carded a 3-under 67 on Saturday and will lead the final pairing off No. 1 tee Sunday afternoon at 1:40 p.m. ET.
“Feels pretty good, that sight never gets tired,” said MacLaren looking at the leaderboard on the 18th green. “It’s been a while since I have been up there. Especially this year. I have had a few good rounds but haven’t quite put myself in position. It’s a good spot to be.”
MacLaren’s second round today was highlighted by five birdies including one on No. 18 to finish the day and extend her lead to three strokes.
“We were on the clock, so it was really just making your decision and go,” said MacLaren on picking her club. “I hit a smooth 6-iron and it was actually closer than I thought it was. I thought it had maybe gone to the back of the green because of the sun setting, it was hard to see, and I hadn’t really been figuring out the wind too well all day. It was nice to see when I got up there it was a chance, around 18 feet. I got a good read on it, trusted my pace like I did all day and knew it was going in which was a nice little bonus at the end.”
In MacLaren’s five years as a professional much of her success has been found overseas on the Ladies European Tour (LET). She has two career LET victories at the 2018 and 2019 Women’s New South Wales Open. Earlier this year, though, MacLaren claimed her career-best finish on the Epson Tour of tied for 13th at the Casino Del Sol Golf Classic.
“I think I have picked up a lot of experience [on the LET]. I almost feel old now playing with girls who are just coming out of college. I think I can really feel that I have learned how to play tournament golf rather than just ‘swing golf,’” MacLaren said. “Like today, I didn’t quite have it, but I still found a way to put a score together. I think the longer you play, the more you learn how to do that.”
While MacLaren is playing far from home and carrying her own bag in the States, she still feels the love and support from her team near and far.
“None of us out here would be able to do it without the people that support us,” said MacLaren. “Whether that is financially, emotionally, psychologically, technically the list is endless. There are a lot of people who have pushed me and believed in me. We all have our moments when we don’t believe in ourselves, so I owe them a lot and they know who they are.”
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