South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai has become the third woman to claim the British and Australian Open titles in the same year after a nail-biting, one-stroke victory at Victoria Golf Club today.
Buhai edged overnight leader and 2013 Women’s Australian Open champion Jiyai Shin by a stroke despite a one-over par 73 to close. She joins Karrie Webb (2002) and Yani Tseng (2010 and 2011) as the only women to complete the British–Australian double in the same year.
The winner from Muirfield in August led by as many as four shots as the women’s field made the turn, but bogeys at the 10th, 14th and 16th saw her lead evaporate. A birdie at the 17th restored a one-stroke edge before a closing par sealed the title.
“It’s the cherry on the top [of a great year], I guess,” Buhai said.
Australia’s best chance rested with Sydney’s Grace Kim, who will leave town ruing a lost opportunity to claim her national Open. As Buhai was shedding shots on Victoria’s inward nine, Kim quietly compiled a run of back-nine pars that sandwiched a lone birdie at the short par-4 15th. Despite leaving a greenside bunker shot in the sand at the penultimate hole, Kim saved par and went to the 18th tee tied for the lead. The closing par-5 played as one of the easiest holes all week, yet Kim inexplicably finished with a 7 when a birdie would have forced a playoff. She found a fairway bunker with her drive, ambitiously chose a hybrid for her second shot but failed to escape the sand again. A three-putt inflamed the pain.
She was deflated but not devastated, and at 21 you get the feeling she will have more chances – possibly a lot more.
“Absolutely,” Kim said when asked if she saw more positives than negatives in the week. “Before this week, I saw the field and I was like, Oh gosh, we’ve got some really good names, I’d struggle to make the second cut. But having to finish where I have this week, I’m really proud. I think also because it’s a home crowd, that really helped as well. Yeah, big positives and big lessons for the future.”
Shin, who led by a stroke after 54 holes, appeared to have squandered her chances when she shot 40 on the front nine. Yet her chances improved as Buhai began so make bogeys on the way home.
The South Korean birdied the 15th and 17th holes and needed another at the last to force extra holes. Her seven-foot putt refused to follow the usual break on Victoria’s 18th green, stayed right and slipped wide. Her miss allowed Buhai the luxury of a tap-in par to take the title by a stroke.
Hannah Green was the other Australian who began the final round on the edge of contention. However, she struggled in the fluky northerly breeze with two front-nine double-bogeys in a 74 that dropped her to third place, a shot ahead of Kim who was alone in fourth. Minjee Lee finished outright fifth.
On this occasion it was Buhai’s day. The South African – who first competed in Australia as a 13-year-old girl when “my parents put me on a plane” – showed the requisite grit to hold her nerve when things became tight in the closing stages, aided by a little help from her husband and caddie, David.
“He just kept me calm,” Buhai said. “We walked off 16 and I think by then I was tied for the lead and he said, ‘Well, whatever happens now, I want you to commit to every shot, no matter what the outcome is – that’s all you can do.’ That’s what got me the job done at the British this year and that’s all I tried to focus on all day.”
Buhai is a worthy winner, one who has a long-standing tie with Australia and the Melbourne Sandbelt. In what is a tricky time of year for LPGA players and the broader schedule, she made the commitment to the championship based on a love of and familiarity with the magnificent courses of the region. While conceding that the February timing of the championship was better, you get the feeling she’ll be back to defend whenever the next edition is held.
