Maguire unable to make inroads as Buhai sparkles
ASHLEIGH BUHAI will take a fiveshot lead into the final day at the AIG Women’s Open thanks to a seven-under-par 64 at Muirfield yesterday.
The South African tops the leaderboard after round three, with her 14-under-par 199 representing the second-lowest 54-hole score in championship history.
The 33-year-old is now eyeing her maiden major triumph to add to three previous victories on the Ladies’ European Tour.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire had a solid rather than a spectacular third round, firing a 71 which leaves her on two under overall, 12 shots behind Buhai. Maguire parred the first four holes before a clinical birdie at the par-5 fifth hole and then resumed her run of pars well into the back nine.
Perhaps frustrated at being unable to improve her score, Maguire promptly dropped two shots in succession on 14 and 15 before rallying with a birdie at another parfive hole at 17.
It would talk something truly remarkable to secure victory in today’s final round but Maguire has played well over the week and can be expected to make a concerted push to rise up the leaderboard given the prize money on offer.
Buhai had led at the Women’s Open after 36 holes in 2019 only to wind up finishing fifth.
Six birdies in the first 10 holes helped her take control at Muirfield, with her sole dropped shot coming on the 18th amid impressive negotiation of high winds.
Hinako Shibuno sits joint-second on nine under par after a third round score of 66. The Japanese star claimed Open glory in 2019 when Buhai fell away from the midway lead for that fifthplace finish.
In Gee Chun also sits on nine under par, with the Korean still in the mix for a potential fourth major crown.
England’s Charley Hull drained an eagle at the 17th to reach three under par to sit 15th as the highest British or Irish star.
Callum Shinkwin will take a slender one-shot lead into the final round of the Cazoo Open after hunting down halfway leader Julien Guerrier on Saturday. The Englishman carded seven birdies and a single bogey in a stunning 65 – the jointlowest round of the week so far – to get to 11 under par and overtake Guerrier at the summit.
Frenchman Guerrier began the day with a two-stroke advantage and had pulled three clear by the turn courtesy of three birdies on the front side.
But as he stood still, mixing one birdie with one bogey on the back nine to sign for a third-round 68, as Shinkwin birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th and 18th to hit the front.
Elsehwhere, Corkman John Murphy is one shot off the pace heading into the final round of the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge.
Murphy began ended with eagles as he recorded a stunning 10-under round of 62 in Finland. The lead is held jointly by German pair Velten Meyer and Marc Hammer.