GALWAY, NJ – Ashleigh Bohai took the early lead with four birdies in her first five holes, closed with a short birdie for the 6-under 65 and pared Heo Jo Kim to win by one shot at the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Sunday.
It was the fourth world win over the last 10 months for Buhai, who finished at 14-under 199 in the 54-hole event on the Bay Course in Seaview. Bohai won the Women’s British Open last August for her first major win and first LPGA Championship, and has since added titles in Australia and her native South Africa. It entered the week number 16 in the world.
At 34 years and 11 months old, Buhai is the oldest winner this year on the youth-dominated LPGA Tour.
“Definitely the best golf I’ve ever played in my career,” Buhai said. “I think we’ve found a good balance. I’m a bit of a senior on the tour these days, a veteran.”
Playing in the penultimate pairing, Buhai started the day three shots behind leader Danny Holmqvist. By the time she rolled a long birdie on the par-4 5th hole, she had driven one over Kim.
“Obviously I got off to a good start, and hitting the 5 ball was a hallelujah,” Bohai said. “Those things have to happen for you to win, of course.”
Kim, in the final pairing, bowled a third-order 17 birdie to give herself a chance, but she needed the eagle 5-18 to match Buhai and could only manage the birdie. I shot 68.
Rookie Yan Liu finished with a score of 67 and finished in third place, three shots back. Her previous best finish was a tie for 21st last week at the Mizuho US Open in Jersey City.
The 25-year-old said: “Last week I spoke with my family and my coach, and he just said to me, ‘You don’t need to watch the cut line. You need to try to win.”
Holmqvist bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey went at number 2-6, closing with a 1-over 72 and finishing tied for fourth, four shots back. The 35-year-old Swede is not winning on the LPGA Tour.
Nana Korszt-Madsen (65) tied Holmqvist at 10-under.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been there, so I’m just really happy,” said Korszt-Madsen. “I just wanted to finish well and not end up with something stupid, so I was happy to shut up the birdie.”