Ashleigh Buhai is the new ShopRite LPGA Classic champion after the South African held off the challenge of South Korean Hyo-Joo Kim to claim a one-shot win at Seaview Golf Club in New Jersey.
The 34-year-old began the day in third following an excellent 65 on Saturday to leave her three behind surprise leader Dani Holmqvist, with Kim one shot behind the Swede in second. However, Buhai’s final round got off to an excellent start with four birdies in her first five holes, which set the tone for the day.
Buhai hit her fifth birdie of the day on the eighth as she began exert her authority on events. By the same stage, Kim could only manage two under, while Holmqvist’s challenge had begun to fade, with inconsistency creeping into her game to leave her with three birdies and three bogeys with nine to play.
Further birdies at the 10th and 17th kept Kim in contention, but a bogey at the 11th aside, Buhai controlled her nerves as the final hole approached.
After Buhai birdied the 18th to finish with another 65 and leave her on 14 under, Kim needed an eagle to force a playoff, and she very nearly got it, with a delicate chip onto the green that finished inches from the hole. She tapped in for birdie, but by that time, Buhai knew she had done enough and the celebrations began.
As for Holmqvist, she also birdied the final hole to finish T4 - her best ever finish on the LPGA Tour.
Afterwards, Buhai explained she had to work hard for her win and stay strong mentally. She said: "At no point did I think it was mine until now, until it was really confirmed. I did well to stay mentally in it. Stuck to my process and didn't get ahead of myself and think of the outcome at all, and I just trusted the one thing I was trying to do in my golf swing and hopefully that could take care of it."
Buhai’s victory certainly appears to have been coming in recent weeks, after top 10 finishes elsewhere in New Jersey, at the Cognizant Founders Cup and last week’s Mizuho Americas Open.
The win was her fourth since last August, too, when she claimed the AIG Women’s Open title at Muirfield. Following her maiden Major victory, Buhai also won the ISPS Handa Australian Open on the WPGA Tour of Australasia, before a win on the LET in the Investec South African Women’s Open.
