Ireland’s Leona Maguire has dropped to five shots behind leader Min Lee after a difficult third round at the LPGA Mediheal Championship in California.

However an eagle on the 18th rescued a two-over-par round of 74, which left the Cavan player on four-under.

Lee of Chinese Taipei leads the tournament on nine-under-par.

After her stunning opening round on Thursday was followed by another solid run in the second round, Maguire sat in second place overnight but a double bogey on the first hole set her charge back.

A birdie on the fifth offered a brief reprieve however a bogey and a triple bogey on the eighth and ninth left her down the leaderboard.

However world number 92 Maguire regrouped on the back nine, with a bogey on the 16th her only dropped shot as she picked up two birdies before a superb eagle on the final hole.

England’s Charley Hull struck a one-over third round of 73 to sit in 23rd position on two-under, with compatriots Georgia Hall and Jodi Ewart Shadoff three shots further back on one-over-par.

Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow missed the cut by seven shots after carding a 75 that left her on 11 over for the tournament.