Staff WriterThere’s something almost poetic about the Dow Championship—a tournament staged on a course that respects its roots while embracing the rhythms of the modern game.
And this week, Midland Country Club has delivered again, proving once more that you don’t need gimmicks or gadgets when you’ve got firm fairways, punishing rough, and greens slicker than a used car salesman in August.
As the Dow Championship marches into the weekend, it’s Jennifer Kupcho and Leona Maguire—team name Irish Goodbye, cheeky enough—that have staked their claim atop the leaderboard.
After 36 holes of polished precision and a bogey-free best ball round of 60, they’re sitting pretty at 13-under par, with a two-shot cushion and just one bogey between them since Thursday.
“The plan today was just to give ourselves as many chances as we could,” said Maguire. “Try to get two chances on every hole. For the most part, we did that… Overall, quite a fun day.”
Fun? Certainly. Clinical? Absolutely. These two didn’t just play well—they orchestrated a symphony of greens in regulation (11 of 14) and needed just 18 putts between them on Friday. That’s the kind of stat line that makes competitors glance over their shoulder—and not in admiration.
Kupcho’s got history here, of course. She’s on her fifth different partner in five Dow starts, a sort of golf version of speed dating. But she and Lizette Salas took the title in 2022, and last year, she finished runner-up with Ally Ewing. This time, she’s paired with Maguire, and it looks like the match fits.
While Kupcho’s four career wins and $5.8 million in earnings reflect her knack for showing up when it matters, Maguire—two-time LPGA winner and a perennial Solheim Cup force for Europe—is no slouch either.
Between them, they bring poise, grit, and a workmanlike calm that Midland Country Club tends to reward.
And let’s talk about this course for a moment.
A jewel of Midwest design, the Midland layout is neither tricked up nor toothless. Built in 1928 and reimagined by Jerry Matthews in the ’90s, this course has teeth hidden behind its manicured smile.
Tree-lined corridors force strategy over swagger, and those greens? Miss the wrong side and you’ll need more than a soft touch—you’ll need prayer and a parachute.
The alternate shot format, paired with best ball, exposes any weakness. That’s why the Dow Championship has quietly become a crucible—where Solheim Cup veterans, major champions, and wide-eyed rookies all get tested in ways the week-to-week LPGA grind rarely allows.
Take Cassie Porter and Gemma Dryburgh, the Kilted Koalas (yes, really), who sit solo second at 11-under. They rattled off five straight birdies in their eight-under Friday blitz, barely blinking when the course showed its claws. With just two bogeys through 36 holes, they’ve shown the kind of consistency Midland demands.
Three more teams are bunched behind them at 11-under, including the newly formed pairing of Sarah Schmelzel and Albane Valenzuela (Sho Me the Doni) and debutants Pauline Roussin-Bouchard and Manon De Roey (Double Trouble).
Roussin-Bouchard even chipped in on the last. “I just hate leaving a birdie putt short,” she said after sticking it to 18. “Used that momentum to get a bit fiery… That was pretty fun.”
Indeed, what’s unfolding here is as much about camaraderie as competition.
“We both set a lot of really big goals for ourselves for last season,” Schmelzel said. “It’s really cool to accomplish them together… We’ve just had a ton of fun being able to team up.” That kind of organic connection—like theirs, which grew out of a dinner in Japan—adds a layer of authenticity this event thrives on.
And if you think this team thing is just some novelty, just ask Megan Khang. “Golf is already such a lonely sport,” she said. “It’s really cool having a format where you get to have a teammate… Dang straight I do. I for sure got this. This is light work.”
Of course, not everyone’s making merry in Midland. The cut came at four-under, meaning 37 teams live to fight another day. But the likes of Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn—the 2021 Dow champs—along with Haeran Ryu and Rose Zhang, and even Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang, are headed home early. Midland doesn’t care for résumés—it wants rhythm, partnership, and nerves tighter than a snare drum.
There’s $3.3 million on the table this week, with nearly $800K going to the winning duo. But more than that, there’s legacy.
This isn’t just about winning; it’s about bonding under pressure, grinding together when things go sideways, and occasionally carrying your mate when they need it most.
Midland doesn’t offer shortcuts. It asks the hard questions: Can you flight it into a breeze and land it soft? Can you shake off a bogey and bounce back with birdies? Can you trust someone else with your fate?
For Kupcho and Maguire, the answer—for now—is a resounding yes.
And with the weekend looming, the Dow Championship is just getting warmed up.
