Ashleigh Buhai

Ashleigh Buhai is leading the Women's AIG Open by five shots going into Sunday, ahead of 2019 Open winner Hinako Shibuno.

At 33 years old, Ashleigh Buhai aims to initiate her LPGA win tally with the final major of 2022 and inject some energy and drive into the female golf scene in South Africa as the WPGA founders did – over a hundred years ago. In what is the first women’s Open Championship to be hosted at Muirfield, it is almost fitting that a first-time major winner hoists the trophy. The Centenary of South African Ladies Golf Union was celebrated in 2014, 100 years on from the first meeting minutes were documented, establishing its presence in the game.

Ashleigh Buhai will take a five-shot lead into the final day at the AIG Women's Open thanks to a seven-under-par 64 on Saturday, while Leona Maguire is 12 ...

In Gee Chun also sits on nine under par, with the Korean still in the mix for a potential fourth major crown. Buhai topped the leaderboard after Saturday's third round, with her 14-under-par 199 representing the second-lowest 54-hole score in championship history. Ashleigh Buhai will take a five-shot lead into the final day at the AIG Women’s Open thanks to a seven-under-par 64 on Saturday, while Leona Maguire is 12 shots back after taking 71 in the third round.

MUIRFIELD, Scotland — Ashleigh Buhai surged into a five-shot lead at the Women's British Open after shooting a 7-under 64 in the third round on Saturday.

And then I just said to myself, ‘OK, that’s fine, you’re in a good spot. But she’s never had a five-shot lead going into the final round, either. “So, I was 8 under playing the last, which I think I have to look back, is probably one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever played.”

GULLANE, Scotland: South African Ashleigh Buhai took a firm grip on the Women's British Open on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) with an impressive third round ...

Hit it close and the chip in for birdie at 17 was a bonus. "But, in these conditions, anything can happen but I love links golf. She has won three times on the Ladies' European Tour and has two South African Women's Opens but is still waiting for the breakthrough on the LPGA Tour.

GOLF. Buhai takes over with 64. Ashleigh Buhai surged into a five-shot lead at the Women's British Open after shooting a 7-under 64 in the third round on ...

Life Is Good led wire-to-wire and held off stablemate Happy Saver by two lengths to win the $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on a steamy Saturday. The 4-5 favorite, owned by CHC and WinStar Farm, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.97 seconds. The colt named in honor of baseball Hall of Famer and former Negro leagues legend James Thomas Bell paid $106, $25.40 and $10.20 after trotting the mile at the Meadowlands in 1:51.3. The stunning victory by the 52-1 shot gave trainer Jim Campbell a sweep of both the Hambletonian and the Hambletonian Oaks on Saturday. It also gave up-and-coming driver Todd McCarthy his first Hambletonian win. Ty Gibbs won his Xfinity Series-high fifth race this year and ninth of his two-year career Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. The 19-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, in the No. 54 Toyota, led 54 of the 125 laps on the 2-mile oval. Franmil Reyes, who began the season as the cleanup hitter for the Cleveland Guardians, was designated for assignment Saturday. The 27-year-old outfielder/designated hitter had been optioned to Triple-A Columbus earlier in the week after batting .213 with 9 home runs and 104 strikeouts in 263 at-bats. Entering play on Saturday, he was tied for 10th in the AL with 59 runs. A.J. Allmendinger was aiming for his second consecutive Xfinity Series win this season and second in a row at Michigan. He led seven laps before finishing seventh. The largest cut since the PGA Tour went to top 65 and ties, followed by two delays for storms in the area, kept the Wyndham Championship from finishing the third round Saturday and set up a long final day of the regular season. He bogeyed the next hole, then closed with five straight pars to post a two-round total of 7-under 133 at Canyon Meadows. Triplett is an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions, the most recent in 2019. Ashleigh Buhai surged into a five-shot lead at the Women's British Open after shooting a 7-under 64 in the third round on Saturday in Muirfield, Scotland. Now she just has to find a way to finish off for her first major victory. John Daly (Dardanelle, Razorbacks) moved up to 40th place by firing a round of 68 on Saturday. Daly stands at 1-over 141 overall. Former University of Arkansas golfer Gaby Lopez turned in a 73 for the second day in a row and is at even par for the tournament.

Taking the lead in the AIG Womens Open being played in Scotland, Ashleigh Buhai from South Africa is five strokes ahead.

Both are now in a tie for second place with a 9-under. She felt she outperformed herself, having come up with an 8-under at the final stroke of the day. She currently holds 14-under 199 for the tournament at Muirfield.

Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa holds an impressive five-shot lead heading into the final round at the AIG Women's Open.

The wind is going to blow, which is good. To be able to I think shoot that score in those conditions, you have to be able to pat yourself on the back,” said Buhai after her impressive third round. “So much so that I thought I was 6-under, not 7, so I was 8-under playing the last, which I think I have to look back is probably one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever played.”

MUIRFIELD, Scotland (AP) — Ashleigh Buhai surged into a five-shot lead at the Women's British Open after shooting a 7-under 64 in the third round on ...

And then I just said to myself, ‘OK, that’s fine, you’re in a good spot. But she’s never had a five-shot lead going into the final round, either. “So, I was 8 under playing the last, which I think I have to look back, is probably one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever played.”

Ashleigh Buhai recovered from throwing away a five-shot lead to secure a dramatic play-off victory and maiden major title at the AIG Women's Open.

Buhai hacked out of a fairway bunker into the rough and barely advanced her ball with her next effort, then missed the green with her fourth shot and two-putted for a triple-bogey seven. Buhai made a two-putt par on the first extra hole, where Chun produced a spectacular up and down from the greenside bunker, while Chun then holed from eight feet to scramble a bogey at the next after Buhai had failed to save par from the sand. Buhai made a clutch par-save at the first but failed to get up and down to avoid a dropped shot at the next, as Chun - playing in the group ahead - made birdies at the second and fourth holes to cut her lead to two shots.

Twenty years on from Ernie Els' Open triumph at Muirfield, Ashleigh Buhai overcame a big wobble to follow her fellow South African into the winners' circle.

She asked the question with a brilliant approach and Buhai blinked by finding the greenside bunker on the right with her second. Els played a stunning bunker shot from the other side of the green in 2002. At the moment, the gap to Chun was one but a hole ahead, Chun found a bunker on 10. Finding a bunker off the tee was the start of the troubles. A heavy-handed chip left her with a 15-footer which she missed, meaning she walked off the green with a triple-bogey seven. A hack advanced the ball only 20 yards and she came up short of the green with her fourth. But an error came on nine, as she found a bunker off the tee and chalked up a bogey. At the fourth extra hole, it was Chun who faltered off the tee and Buhai held nerve to claim a maiden major title. Chun made a terrible mistake on 12, short-siding herself on the left. Buhai stood on the 15th tee with a three-shot lead. “It is a lot of hard work, many years of dedication, and there are lots of South Africans at home with grey hair right now,” Buhai said at the presentation. Buhai built her lead -it stood at five shots overnight- on the back of confident, controlled golf.

With the light fading, the South African golfer made a superb bunker shot on the fourth playoff hole to leave herself with a short par putt, while Chun settled ...

On the first, Chun sent her second shot into a bunker while Buhai found the heart of the green. “Forgive me, there will be a few tears,” Buhai said during the trophy presentation. “But I’m very proud of myself, the way I dug deep and kept myself in it to get into that playoff.” This was the first time the Women’s British Open was played at Muirfield, a club that didn’t even allow female members until 2019 following a vote two years earlier. “My caddie said to me on the last one, I don’t want to brag, but she said ‘Show them why you’re No. 1 in bunkers this year.’ So, you know, she gave me the confidence. Maybe it’s got something to do with Muirfield and South Africans and bunker shots.”

Leona Maguire wasn't a million miles away from being involved in the playoff that ultimately decided this historic AIG Women's Open at Muirfield, ...

But it was from there she produced the shot of a champion, splashing out to a couple of feet. Then, it was about Buhai. After her drive found the middle of the fairway, her approach was pushed right into a greenside bunker. Buhai had started the final round with destiny in her own hands, carrying in a five stroke lead, but one which whittled away to the point it disappeared entirely. Maguire could most surely reflect on what might have been, for last year’s star of Europe’s Solheim Cup win brought that team performance into her own world with a stunning final round that saw her finish three shots adrift of the two who fought it out in the play-off. This may have been the fifth and final Major championship of the year, but – again – Maguire proved she has the DNA for these toughest of tests. It just would have been nice to be a few shots further up the leader board heading into today but overall I have learned a lot from this week and it’s nice to be sort of knocking on the door again,” said Maguire, who added €330,000 to her LPGA Tour winnings for a season that has already seen her register a breakthrough tournament win.

It took 15 years of hard work and patience, and 76 holes of determination at Muirfield. Now, South African Ashleigh Buhai is a major champion.

With a thrilling four days at Muirfield, Buhai finally added her name to the LPGA Tour record books. Buhai’s 6-footer for par came up just short, leaving her a tap-in for bogey, and Chun nailed the comebacker to force another hole. On the third trip back to No. 18, Buhai’s birdie attempt was right on line, but heartbreakingly died to the left. Buhai had a prime opportunity at No. 17 to reclaim the lead. But it all went haywire at No. 15 for Buhai, who found a fairway bunker off the tee and hit out sideways, needing two shots to escape the deep rough. Buhai became the 44th player to become a Rolex First-Time Winner at a major championship.

With four holes to go, it seemed that Ashleigh Buhai was on her way to a first LPGA Tour and Major title in 221 starts. However, after finding a bunker off ...

A double bogey putt lacked any conviction, as it came up well shy of the target, after tapping-in, she was back into a share of the lead with Chun. Now a freelance writer for Golf Monthly and the PGA, he covers all aspects of the game, from Tour news to equipment testing and buyers’ guides. For Buhai, it wasn't quite a disaster, Chun was up ahead and, following a par at the last, Buhai knew she would need a one-under score over the last two holes to win. Although unclear as to whether she could take a stance to get back to the fairway, the South African played it into the thick rough. Buhai though has been one of the big scorers this week and, thanks to a run of pars whilst others struggled, she extended the lead to three. With four holes to go, it seemed that Ashleigh Buhai was on her way to a first LPGA Tour and Major title in 221 starts.

Ashleigh Buhai joins a storied list of Muirfield champions that includes Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino.

Buhai met her husband, David, at a golf academy in Johannesburg and the couple began dating long distance 15 years ago. Buhai, née Simon, began playing golf at age 6 and has been the face of women’s golf in South Africa since she was a teenager. Standing on the 15th tee, Buhai held a three-shot lead when her worst drive of the week found a poor lie in a fairway bunker. Buhai became the third South African to win a British Open at Muirfield, joining her heroes Els and Gary Player, who won in 1959. The pair traded sudden-death blows down the 18th four times, with the Muirfield clubhouse providing a dramatic backdrop. During a practice round at Muirfield, Ashleigh Buhai pulled up a YouTube video of Ernie Els’ magnificent bunker shot on the par-3 13th from his victory 20 years ago for inspiration.

South African Ashleigh Buhail defeated Chun In-gee after four extra holes having let a big lead slip with a triple bogey on the 15th hole.

This was, again, Buhai’s to lose and this time from the middle of the fairway. On the first re-playing of the 18th, Chun had a wonderful shot from a greenside bunker to rescue a four. On hole 74, Chun fluffed a chip from left of the green. At the last, the eventual champion rattled her putt for a three past the hole. Buhai advanced the ball 10 yards, with her fourth shot just short of the green. For Buhai, glory and $1.1m from a major she looked at one point determined to give away.

Buhai survived losing the lead late in the final round and required four extra holes to defeat South Korea's In Gee Chun.

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With the light fading, the South African golfer made a superb bunker shot on the fourth playoff hole to leave herself with a short par putt, while Chun settled ...

On the first, Chun sent her second shot into a bunker while Buhai found the heart of the green. “Obviously there’s a lot of hard work and many years of dedication going into this.” “But I’m very proud of myself, the way I dug deep and kept myself in it to get into that playoff.” This was the first time the Women's British Open was played at Muirfield, a club that didn't even allow female members until 2019 following a vote two years earlier. “My caddie said to me on the last one, I don’t want to brag, but she said ‘Show them why you’re No. 1 in bunkers this year.' So, you know, she gave me the confidence. Maybe it’s got something to do with Muirfield and South Africans and bunker shots.”

Two decades after her idol Ernie Els won the Open at Muirfield, South Africas Ashleigh Buhai followed in his footsteps after a dramatic finish to the ...

Despite the fading light and dropping temperature, Chun and Buhai both hit superb shots into the green on the third extra hole, but neither was able to convert. Both players missed the green on the second extra hole and hit poor third shots before Chun inexplicably charged her par putt eight feet past the hole, but the 27-year-old recovered her composure to salvage a bogey after Buhai's long par attempt came up short. The players returned to the 18th for extra holes and Chun brilliantly saved par from a greenside bunker to keep her hopes alive, with Buhai two-putting from long range.

1. Buhai started playing golf at the age of 6 and credits her dad as the individual with the most influence over her career.

5. In her third event as a professional, she won the 2007 Catalonia Ladies Masters. In the process she became the youngest ever professional winner on the Ladies European Tour 4. She represented her country in the mainly professional Women's World Cup of Golf three times while still an amateur and turned professional on her 18th birthday 2. She enjoyed a successful amateur career, becoming the youngest player to win the Ladies’ South African Amateur Stroke Play and Match Play

South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim victory in a marathon play-off against Chun In-gee in the Women's British Open at ...

She closed with a 73 for one over par. The Korean closed with a round of 70. But she drove into a bunker at the 15th, hit out sideways into rough and then moved the ball just a few yards with her third shot on the way to a triple-bogey seven.

After a near-disastrous triple bogey late in her round, Buhai responded like a champion late.

All at the same time and all in the present. This takes place all the time all over the golf world, but it rarely happens at this level with this much at stake. Buhai poured in a short one to give her the championship that could have slid through her fingers so many times over the previous several hours. A beautiful result to a long summer and an even lengthier career. She gripped the front of her cap and pulled it over her eyes, the reality of what she had undoubtedly always envisioned too much for her to bear in the moment. She put both hands on the steering wheel, though, and got the championship back in her grasp.

MUIRFIELD, Scotland — David Buhai is 6-foot-4 or so, a golly giant, but on this day he was not tall enough. He climbed up onto the back of a golf cart for a ...

For hours they had felt this party coming, and had prepared a tasty catchphrase for the night. When Ashleigh tapped in for her 4, David ducked under the ropes and bounded in her direction, reaching his wife even before her caddie could, bear-hugging her into the air. It’s the kind of shot players practice on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, assured that somewhere on the path from Thursday to Sunday, they’ll find a weird moment in a weird bunker and they’ll want to know how to do it. Her hubby was behind the 18th green now as Ashleigh sized up a putt to win it all in regulation. On the first hole in the playoff, Chun’s approach fell out into the greenside bunker. The beer had worked on his nerves, and his own censor. “It’s always harder for those watching,” Ashleigh would say later, reminding the press that in 2019 it was David who lugged around a backpack full of beers to ease the tension. Chun splashed out of the bunker to two feet. His wife Nicole had missed the cut but they hung around to walk with the Buhais all weekend. Ashleigh has sprinted to that 5-shot lead by shooting 65 in the second round followed by a preposterous 64 in the third. Her niece had been in control of the championship for the last 24 hours. But David was back now, alongside Michael Paterson, the husband to Ashleigh’s caddie Tanya. There is a sense of comfort once you blow a lead.

Aug 7 (Reuters) - South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai won her first major title at the Women's British Open on Sunday after beating South Korean Chun In-gee in a ...

For me to be a female South African major winner, I have no words, it’s life changing!” I just tried to stay in the moment. “But I was very proud of the way I dug deep to keep myself together and get into the play-off.

South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai clinched the first Major of her career by winning the 2022 AIG Women's Open after a four-hole playoff.

I have always said the AIG Women’s Open is my favourite event of the year, so to be called a champion is a true honour.” It played like should, it was firm and fast, and the wind did what it was supposed to do to be a true test. She added: “It is so difficult to put into words now what it means, I think it might only hit me in a few days. On the last, my caddie said to me ‘show them why you are number one in bunkers this year’, she gave me the confidence and maybe it’s also something to do with Muirfield and South Africans and bunker shots.” For me to a be female South African Major winner, it is life changing. “I know there is a lot of people in South Africa with lots of grey hairs right now – especially after that 15th hole!

Buhai made history by becoming only the third South African woman to win a major golf championship. Golf Hall of famer Sally Little won the Women's PGA ...

The Korean closed with a round of 70. Just tried to stay in the moment. She closed with a 73 for one over par. Alison Sheard also won the Women's Open in 1979 at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club. But I was surprisingly calm in the playoff. South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim a "life-changing" victory in a marathon playoff against Chun In-gee in the Women's Open at Muirfield on Sunday.

South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim a 'life-changing' victory in a marathon play-off against Chun In-gee in the Women's ...

The Korean closed with a round of 70. She closed with a 73 for one over par. Just tried to stay in the moment. But I was surprisingly calm in the play-off. But she drove into a bunker at the 15th, hit out sideways into rough and then moved the ball just a few yards with her third shot on the way to a triple-bogey seven. Gullane - South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim a "life-changing" victory in a marathon play-off against Chun In-gee in the Women's British Open at Muirfield on Sunday.

South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim a "life-changing" victory in a marathon play-off against Chun In-gee in the Women's ...

The Korean closed with a round of 70. She closed with a 73 for one over par. Just tried to stay in the moment. But I was surprisingly calm in the play-off. GULLANE - South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim a "life-changing" victory in a marathon play-off against Chun In-gee in the Women's British Open at Muirfield on Sunday. South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai survived a disastrous 15th hole to claim a "life-changing" victory in a marathon play-off against Chun In-gee in the Women's British Open at Muirfield on Sunday.

When winless 33-year-old South African Ashleigh Buhai tugged a tee shot into the bunker at the difficult par-4 15th at Muirfield, you sensed drama on the ...

And the first woman to win a major championship at Muirfield will forever be the quiet South African who battled injury, illness and doubt, and never gave up. Even in the women’s game, Muirfield has been a star. After Chun found a fairway bunker and made bogey, the stage was clear for Buhai to roll in a short one for a life-changing victory. But it was lost on no one that growing up Buhai had a life-sized poster of Els in her room. Even way, way back when Harry Vardon beat J.H. Taylor in a 36-hole playoff in 1896, the venue has consistently delivered. This was only her second time in the final pairing in a major. Phil Mickelson’s comeback 66 to make up five shots and win the 2013 Open Championship by three; Els surviving a four-person playoff in 2002; Nick Faldo twice, first in 1987 over Paul Azinger who pulled a tee shot on 18 into a bunker, and again in 1992 when he hung on after letting a four-shot lead slip away. She focused on taking the club back at 40% of her normal speed. Buhai left the ball in the rough. The links crafted by Old Tom Morris on an arrowhead-shaped peninsula in the Firth of Forth never disappoints. She hit 15 of 18 greens on Sunday and missed only 13 greens in 72 holes, an exemplary number given the shifting conditions and gusting winds. Buhai clipped her pitch out of the cavernous hazard too clean, carrying the ball into the thick rough.