Buhai closes strong to take NW Arkansas lead

Stimpmeter · September 29, 2024, 5:00am

South Africa’s 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 LPGA’s 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, Buhai birdied the 1st hole. But a double-bogey at the 8th left her needing to gain ground.

She birdied 9 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 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 1st then pick up four strokes in three holes with birdies at the 4th and 6th sandwiched around a hole out eagle at the 5th.

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 eight-under 132. Overnight leader Jasmine Suwannapura carded a one-over 72 that left her tied for 15th on seven-under 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.”

Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

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