On an opening day which saw American Michelle Wie lead the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links, Scotland, with a new course record, South Africa’s best golfer was Ashleigh Buhai.
Wie posted an eight-under 64, after starting with a bogey on the second, but a back nine 30 saw her top the pile in a weather-hit first day. That saw her lead Korea’s In-Kyung Kim by one shot.
Five shots further back was Buhai. She had a solid day, hitting 17 of 18 fairways, and missed just three greens in regulation. There will be some disappointment after a bogey on 18 saw her give one back, with four birdies up to that point.
Fellow South African Lee-Anne Pace was one over par after her opening birdie was cancelled out by four bogeys, and has some work to do on Friday if she is to avoid the cut – the fate she suffered at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open.
The third and final South African, Nicole Garcia, was still out on the course, with her round being disrupted by foul weather. She is +2 after 14 holes.
Picture of Buhai courtesy of Stacy Revere/Getty Images