AIG Women's Open in Scotland: Ashleigh Buhai claims 5-stroke lead

Carding a 7-under-par 64, Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa was five strokes ahead in the AIG Women’s Open in Gullane, Scotland. The day started with rather windy conditions, and Ashleigh could put the wind behind her strokes and come out trumps.

She led the pack with a record eight birdies, which included four straight holes in numbers, 4-7and then came up with a birdie on the 18th hole. She currently holds 14-under 199 for the tournament at Muirfield.

She acknowledged herself for the huge feat she charted, having to contend with the windy conditions. She felt she outperformed herself, having come up with an 8-under at the final stroke of the day.


It was perhaps the best round of golf she has played to date, which is commendable indeed.

Ashleigh has come out in 4th position in the Lotte Championship in Hawaii and has two top 10 finishes in 2022. However, an LPGA win still eludes her, although she has been a winner thrice at the Ladies European Tour.

The 33-year-old Ashleigh Buhai plans to qualify for the Hall of Famer Sally Little (1980,1988) as the first South African to win a tournament on the LPGA Tour.

Hinako Shibuno of Japan, who was leading the first round, shot a wonderful 66, and the leader of the second round, South Korean Gee Chun, hit 70. Both are now in a tie for second place with a 9-under.

Shibuno, the 2019 tournament champion, collected six birdies and one bogey. She got an advantage from a back-nine 31 to tie with Chun, who pulled off three birdies and two bogeys on Saturday.

Although Chun was quite happy with her performance, she complained about the windy conditions. She has four career LPGA Tour victories.
Other rankings include Inbee Park of South Korea at 70 and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom at 71 are both tied for fourth at 7-under 206.

Stephanie Kyriacou from Australia at 70, Minjee Lee of Australia at 70, and Miyu Yamashita of Japan at 71, all tied for the 6th position at five under.