Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Ashleigh Buhai shook off a “silly” double bogey and surged home with four birdies in the last five holes on Saturday to take a one-shot lead in the US LPGA NW Arkansas Championship. “I felt I played just as well as yesterday. Obviously, the winds were a little trickier than yesterday morning for us, so kind of faded out for everybody,” said Buhai, who posted a four-under par 67 for an 11-under par 36-hole total of 131 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.
One back to start the day, South Africa’s Buhai birdied the first hole. But a double bogey at the eighth left her needing to gain ground. She birdied nine and 11, and after a bogey at 13, she birdied 14, 15, 17, and 18 to power past Dottie Ardina of the Philippines, who carded a 67 for 10-under 132. “I did start to get a little frustrated, but I was hitting a lot of good shots,” Buhai said. “Made a silly double bogey, but at least I kept calm and just reminded myself to keep doing what I was doing, and finally got rewarded down the last few holes.”
Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women’s British Open, is battling to claim a spot in the 60-player Tour Championship field after a season disrupted by injury. She battled back injuries and a broken toe—playing the Paris Olympics with a piece of one shoe cut away because of her toe trouble. The 35-year-old led after the first round of the Queen City Championship this month on the way to a tie for 14th and said she’d try not to think about holding the lead going into the final round of the 54-hole event. “If I go out tomorrow and try to do my job well, that’s all I can do,” she said. “Hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”
Ardina, chasing a first LPGA title, was 11-under after a blistering start that saw her birdie the first, then pick up four strokes in three holes with birdies at the fourth and sixth sandwiched around a hole-out eagle at the fifth. Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol had six birdies in a six-under par 65 to join a group of four sharing third place on nine-under 133. She was joined by Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who had seven birdies to offset a double bogey in her five-under 66. Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez both carded four-under par 67s to join the group on nine-under.
Eight players shared seventh on 132. Overnight leader Jasmine Suwannapura carded a one-over 72 that left her tied for 15th on 133. Lopez, who played collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas in nearby Fayetteville, shook off a triple-bogey at the par-five 14th to card a five-under 66. “It’s probably the best mental round that I’ve had,” she said. “After having a triple bogey, it’s so easy to kind of just lose yourself and lose patience.”
© 2024 AFP
