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Ashleigh Buhai shook off a “silly” double bogey and came home with four birdies in the final five holes Saturday to take a one-shot lead in the US LPGA NW Arkansas Championship.
“I felt like I played as well as yesterday. Obviously the winds were a little trickier than yesterday morning for us, so they eased up a little bit for everyone,” said Buhai, who posted a four-under par 67 for an 11-under par. Total of 36 holes out of 131 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.
To start the day, South African Buhai birdied the first hole. But a double bogey at the eighth forced her to gain ground.
She birdied 9 and 11, and after a bogey at 13, she birdied 14, 15, 17 and 18 to overtake Dottie Ardina of the Philippines, who carded a 10-under 67 for 132.
“I started to get a little frustrated, but I hit a lot of good shots,” Buhai said. “I made a stupid double bogey, but at least I stayed calm and just remembered to keep doing what I was doing, and I finally got rewarded in the last few holes.”
Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women’s British Open, is fighting to claim a place among the 60-player Tour Championship after a season disrupted by injury.
She battled back injuries and a broken toe – playing in the Paris Olympics with a piece of a shoe cut off because of her toe problem.
The 35-year-old was in the lead after the first round of the Queen City Championship this month on her way to a tie for 14th and said she would try not to think about retaining the lead until 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. “I hope the rest works out.”
Ardina, seeking a first LPGA title, was 11 under after a blistering start that saw her birdie at the first then pick up four strokes in three holes with birdies at the fourth and sixth sandwiched around an eagle on the fifth.
Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol made six birdies in a six-under par 65 to join a group of four sharing third place with a nine-under 133.
She was joined by Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who made seven birdies to make up for a double bogey in her score of 66-under.
Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez both carded a four-under par 67 to join the group at nine under.
Eight players shared seventh place out of 132. Evening leader Jasmine Suwannapura had a one-over 72 that left her tied for 15th out of 133.
Lopez, who played collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas in nearby Fayetteville, made a triple bogey at the par-five 14th to post a five-under 66.
“It’s probably the best mental trick I’ve had,” she said. “After you have a triple bogey, it’s so easy to get lost and lose patience.”
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