Two a long time just after her idol Ernie Els won the Open at Muirfield, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai followed in his footsteps immediately after a spectacular complete to the £6million AIG Women’s Open up.
Els had to occur by means of a four-male, 5-gap enjoy-off to claim his third significant title in 2002 and Buhai expected 4 excess holes to get her 1st by beating South Korea’s In Gee Chun immediately after giving up two seemingly commanding potential customers.
5 photographs obvious heading into the remaining round, Buhai was however 3 in advance with four holes to engage in, only to operate up a triple-bogey 7 on the 15th after locating sand off the tee and splashing out sideways into weighty rough.
That dropped the 33-12 months-old into a tie for the direct with Chun, the a few-time main winner then completing a closing 70 in the team ahead to set the clubhouse target on 10 less than.
Soon after her birdie putt on the par-5 17th caught the edge of the gap and stayed out, Buhai had to hole from 4 toes on the past to pressure a enjoy-off right after charging her prolonged birdie attempt earlier the hole.
The gamers returned to the 18th for excess holes and Chun brilliantly saved par from a greenside bunker to retain her hopes alive, with Buhai two-putting from extended array.
Both gamers skipped the green on the 2nd added gap and hit inadequate 3rd photographs in advance of Chun inexplicably charged her par putt eight toes earlier the gap, but the 27-year-old recovered her composure to salvage a bogey soon after Buhai’s very long par endeavor came up brief.
Irrespective of the fading light and dropping temperature, Chun and Buhai both strike wonderful shots into the green on the 3rd further gap, but neither was ready to transform.
It was debatable no matter whether a fifth added hole would have been possible if necessary, but Buhai at last settled the result in fashion with a fantastic bunker shot location up a tap-in par which Chun – who had uncovered sand off the tee – was not able to match.
Previous winner Hinako Shibuno finished a shot outdoors the play-off just after a closing round of 71.
