NGG | -1.84% | 65.82 | $ | |
RBGPF | 3.66% | 61.75 | $ | |
BTI | 0.03% | 34.26 | $ | |
GSK | -1.06% | 37.76 | $ | |
SCS | -0.93% | 12.89 | $ | |
RIO | 0.48% | 65.265 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.53% | 24.65 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.27% | 7.42 | $ | |
BP | 0.1% | 31.501 | $ | |
BCE | -0.09% | 33.36 | $ | |
BCC | -2.78% | 137.9 | $ | |
VOD | -1.21% | 9.515 | $ | |
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CMSD | 0.6% | 25.02 | $ | |
AZN | -0.88% | 76.761 | $ | |
RELX | -1.36% | 46.99 | $ |
South Africa's Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City lead
Ashleigh Buhai carded eight birdies in a seven-under par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Queen City Championship as she vies to finish strong in an injury-disrupted year.
"There has been a few things happened to me this year -- back injuries, broken toe," said the South African, who played the Paris Olympics with a piece of one shoe cut away because of her toe injury.
But Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women's British Open, said her form had been solid, and after two weeks off she was ready to attack the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC River's Bend course, which is hosting the tournament for the first time.
"I think I was smart with when I could attack," said Buhai, who had four birdies on the front nine and four on the back.
With her two-putt birdie at 18 she had a one-stroke lead over Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul and China's Liu Yan.
Eight players shared fourth on 67, a group that included world number one Nelly Korda and New Zealand's Lydia Ko, the Paris Olympics champion.
"There were a few pins out there where you had to still try to be aggressive, and the greens got a little firm and ran through, but I then made some good up and downs to keep me in it," Buhai said.
"I hit it great, putted well -- that tends to add up to what it did."
Liu, who has missed the cut in her last seven starts and is searching for a first top-10 of the year, started on the 10th and had two eagles -- at the 18th and at the eighth -- in her 66.
"Today my driver was very good," said Liu, who played her last two holes in three-under.
E.Mancini--IM