Buhai wins British Open for first major title
MUIRFIELD, Scotland, Aug 8, (AP): Ashleigh Buhai recovered from losing a five-shot lead at the Women’s British Open by beating In Gee Chun on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday to win her first major title.
With the light fading, the South African golfer made a superb bunker shot on the 18th hole to leave herself with a short par putt. Chun drove into a pot bunker, had to hit wedge out and wound up making a bogey.
Buhai calmly rolled in her winning putt from 3 feet and then clutched her face in relief, before being drenched in champagne, water and other beverages by her entourage.
She made things a lot more difficult than they had to be, though.
Buhai entered the final round with a commanding five-shot lead and was still three strokes ahead before a triple bogey on the par-4 15th that put her level with Chun.
She then missed a short birdie putt on the par-5 17th that would have restored a one-shot lead. Both players missed long birdie putts on the 18th as they settled for a playoff after finishing on 10-under 274.
Buhai shot a 4-over 75 in the final round, while Chun carded a 70.
Hinako Shibuno of Japan, the 2019 champion, finished one shot back in third after missing a chip from just off the green that would have made it a three-way playoff.
Joohyung “Tom” Kim announced his arrival on the PGA Tour when the 20-year-old South Korean closed with a 9-under 61 for a five-shot victory in the Wyndham Championship on Sunday, making him the second-youngest winner on tour since World War II.
A marathon day because of storm delays turned into a sprint for Kim. He finished the third round in the morning and was two shots behind, and then shot 27 on the front nine to leave the rest of the field in his wake.
No one came close the rest of the way. The victory gave Kim instant membership on the PGA Tour, making him eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs that start next week. He is No. 34, assured of playing two postseason events and with a reasonable shot at getting to the finale at East Lake.
Sungjae Im, who finished seven holes Sunday morning to take the 54hole lead, had a 68 and tied for second along with John Huh (67).
Kim is the first PGA Tour winner born after 2000. Jordan Spieth was 19 when he won the John Deere Classic for his first tour win.
Rickie Fowler nailed down the final spot among the top 125 in the FedEx
Cup that advance to the postseason, even though he missed the cut. Justin Lower was set to be in the top 125 until missing a 6-foot par putt on the last hole.
Callum Shinkwin of England claimed his second European tour title by closing with a 1-under 70 for a four-shot victory in the Cazoo Open on Sunday.
Shinkwin finished at 12-under 272 at Celtic Manor, where he has now finished first, fourth and eighth in his last three visits.
A late charge from Scotland’s Connor Syme (68) secured second place on 8 under. Syme made eagle on the 11th and had a hat trick of birdies from the 15th before dropping a shot on the last.
Julien Guerrier (76), Andy Sullivan (67), David Dixon (67), Renato Paratore (66) and Lucas Bjerregaard (68) shared a five-way tie for third, another three strokes back.
Shinkwin’s other title was two years in the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open, a tournament put together during the tour’s return from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jerry Kelly missed a chance to win in regulation and then made short work in the playoff Sunday with a 4-foot birdie putt to win the Shaw Charity Classic for his third title of the season on the PGA Tour Champions.
Kelly closed with a 3-under 67 and won the playoff over John Huston, who shot 65 in one of his best chances to win in his 11 years on the 50-andolder circuit.
The final round was so tight that five players finished one shot behind.
Kirk Triplett, who had the lead going into the final round, had a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to join Kelly and Huston at 9-under 201. But it lost speed and caught the edge of the
cup. Triplett shot 69.
U.S. Senior Open champion Padraig Harrington (66), Joe Durant (62), Dean Wilson (66) and Alex Cejka (66) also missed the playoff by one shot. Cejka was coming off a victory last week on the Legends Tour in Europe.
Andrew Kozan came into the Utah Championship having missed the cut in his last 11 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour. He closed with a 8-under 63 for a one-shot victory. Kozan shot 30 on the back nine, and it was enough to hold off Justin Suh (63), Patrick Fishburn (64) and Ashton Van Horne (64).
The first professional win for the former Auburn player was just the tonic for a rough rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour. Kozan had made only five cuts in 20 starts. The victory moves him to 41 on the points list, with the top 25 earning PGA Tour cards.