Leona Maguire leads outright at the midway point of the Women's PGA Championship after a second round of 68 at Baltusrol in New Jersey.
The Cavan woman birdied three of her final four holes to hit the front in Springfield, N.J, a famous old venue which was the site of Jack Nicklaus' US Open victories in 1967 and 1980.
Chasing a first ever major championship, Maguire entered the week in scintillating form following her LPGA Tour victory at the Meijer Classic last Sunday and carded what she called a "stress-free" 69 on Thursday.
Starting on the 10th tee on Friday, she was level at the turn after a bogey on 15 and birdie on 17. But she hit her stride after that, finishing with four birdies, a single bogey and a par in her final six holes.
Maguire punctuated her round with a short birdie putt at the par-three ninth hole that put her alone on top at five-under 137, one shot ahead of China's Xiyu Lin, England's Mel Reid and Norway's Celine Borge.
Your solo leader, @leona_maguire 👏
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 23, 2023
Fresh off of a Tour win last week, Maguire is in the clubhouse at 5-under at the @KPMGWomensPGA pic.twitter.com/ubYrfCXUQt
Rain storms have peppered the first two days of the championship - with more in the forecast for this weekend - but it was hardly a problem for Maguire.
"I suppose if this weather was at home, nobody would even comment on it," the Irishwoman said.
"There wouldn't be a (fuss)... Just sort of that drizzle all day. It was fun. I didn't play in a jacket for most of the day. It wasn't heavy enough for that."
The 28-year-old has three top-10s at majors but is seeking her first title.
"This is uncharted territory for me," Maguire said. "Whatever happens this week, I'm sure I'll learn a lot, and just sort of taking it one day at a time.
"I think this golf course demands that. I think you can't think more than one shot ahead, let alone a hole or a round ahead."
In addition to the trio of players on four-under, Maguire lies two strokes ahead of World No. 5, Australia's Minjee Lee and first-round leader Lee-Anne Pace (73) of South Africa. Ruoning Yin of China (73) is in seventh at two under.
Stephanie Meadow sits only four strokes behind her compatriot in a tie for eighth, after a 68 on Friday.
Two-over par overnight, Meadow struck birdies on 4, 7, 11 and 18, with just one dropped stroke, to climb back to one-under par heading into the weekend.
The world's top ranked player Jin Young Ko is among seven players tied with Meadow.
The top 70 and ties made the cut of five over par or better, including Lexi Thompson, who made four straight birdies at holes 5-8 toward the end of her round in order to reach four over.
World No 2 Nelly Korda, in her first start after missing more than a month with back pain, won't play the weekend after going 11-over 153 (76-77) and tying for 129th.
Also missing the cut were recent major winners Lilia Vu (six over), Jennifer Kupcho (seven over), Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand (eight over) and Sei Young Kim of South Korea (eight over).
Additional reporting: Reuters
