Chun Denied by South African Buhai in Extra Time

Muirfield, Scotland: Ashleigh Buhai defeated Chun In-gee at the fourth extra hole of a sudden-death play-off to win her first Major title in dramatic style in the AIG Women’s Open.

The 33-year-old let slip a five-shot overnight lead with a closing four-over 75 – largely due to a triple-bogey at the 15th – to finish level with Chun on a 10-under-par total of 274.

However, the South African held her nerve to finally win with a par at the fourth time of playing Muirfield’s par-four 18th to secure her biggest win.

Buhai, ranked 84th in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings with three previous Ladies European Tour wins to her name, denied Korean Chun, 27, a fourth Major victory.

Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 champion at Woburn, secured third place thanks to a final round level-par 71 for a nine-under total.

Buhai joins famous past winners from South Africa to win at Muirfield after Ernie Els (2002) and Gary Player (1959) both won The Open over the renowned links.

The victor received US$1.095 million for her efforts after the overall prize fund was increased to US$7.3 million for this year’s championship.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire (66), Minjee Lee from Australia (69) and Swede Madelene Sagstrom (71) tied for fourth spot on seven-under-par.

Atthaya Thitikul, winner of the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2018, made it three straight top-10s in the Majors. After a fourth-place finish at the PGA and a tie for eighth at last month’s Evian, 19-year-old Atthaya closed with a 70. That gave her a share of seventh spot alongside a trio of fellow former Queen Sirikit Cup participants – Australian Steph Kyriacou, New Zealander Lydia Ko and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.

In an historic week for golf with Muirfield hosting the AIG Women’s Open for the first time, 33,303 fans enjoyed attending the championship as Buhai triumphed.

American Rose Zhang, the number one ranked amateur in the world, won the Smyth Salver for leading amateur after finishing on one-over-par for her 72 holes following a closing 73.

In breezy conditions once more on the East Lothian coast, it proved a fascinating final round. After the opening nine holes, Buhai’s healthy overnight advantage had been cut to just one. Chun’s fine front nine, with three birdies, saw her reach 12-under while Buhai dropped back to 13-under after a second bogey of the day at the par-five ninth.

Bogeys from Chun at 10 and 12 allowed Buhai to regain control and a three-shot lead. However, after driving into the bunker on the 15th, she then took two shots in the heavy rough leading to a triple-bogey seven to fall back level with Chun.

The pair parred the closing three holes to finish level at the top before Buhai’s play-off triumph, winning with a brilliant greenside bunker shot for a decisive par.