Latest news with #Buhai
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seven birdies: Minjee Lee's bold bid for 11th LPGA win
Minjee Lee has surged to be just one shot from the lead midway through the LPGA Tour's LA Championship. The Australian star posted a flawless second round seven-under 65, including seven birdies, at El Caballero Country Club on Friday to be challenging joint leaders Ashleigh Buhai and Ingrid Lindblad. Sweden's Lindblad had a career-best 63 to get to 13 under, alongside South Africa's major winner Buhai (68). With 10 LPGA titles to her name, including two majors, 28-year-old Lee is chasing a first victory since the BMW Ladies Championship in October, 2023. But she has been thereabouts with two top-five finishes already this year, including a runner-up result at the Blue Bay LPGA last month. She won the LA Championship in 2019 when it was played at Wilshire Country Club. This tournament is being played at El Caballero because of renovations at Wilshire. Some gorgeous views from a gorgeous round 🎥✨ — LPGA (@LPGA) April 18, 2025 "I think just being in the right spot off the tee and, obviously, just hitting good iron shots into the greens," Lee said. "Some of the greens are a little bit bigger, there are bigger landing spots." Fellow Australians Hannah Green - gunning for her third straight LA Championship win - and Steph Kyriacou are also well in the title chase, sitting tied 20th at eight under after both shot 67s. Countrywoman Hira Naveed (69, four under) also made the halfway cut but Cassie Porter (72, three under), Grace Kim (73, even), Sarah Kemp (71, one over), Karis Davidson (71, two over) and Gabriela Ruffels (75, five over) all missed out on weekend play. The 25-year-old Lindblad is a former college star for LSU. "I feel like if you put the work in, like eventually it's going to show up," said Lindblad. "Obviously, it's hard to tell exactly when it's going to show up, but I feel like I've been working on good things in my golf game that I need to get better at. "After a day like this, it shows that it paid off." Buhai had a share of the lead for the second straight day after opening with a 63. "It's always difficult to follow a low one, but I'm pretty happy how I played today," said Buhai, the 2022 Women's British Open winner. "Pins were a little trickier, but still some that were gettable."
NBC Sports
19-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rookie Ingrid Lindblad fires 63 to share 36-hole lead at JM Eagle LA Championship
LOS ANGELES — Ingrid Lindblad took a share of the lead into the weekend at El Caballero Country Club in only the fourth start of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour. Lindblad shot a career-best 9-under 63 in cool conditions Friday afternoon to join Ashleigh Buhai atop the leaderboard at 13-under 131 in the JM Eagle LA Championship. 'I feel like if you put the work in, like eventually it's going to show up,' said Lindblad, the 25-year-old former LSU star from Sweden. 'Obviously, it's hard to tell exactly when it's going to show up, but, obviously, I feel like I've been working on good things in my golf game that I need to get better at. After a day like this, it shows that it paid off.' With the temperature only climbing into the low 60s on an overcast day, Lindblad had 10 birdies and a bogey on the first 14 holes. She parred the final four. 'I thought I read the greens really well,' Lindblad said. 'It wasn't just like tap-ins for par. It was 10-footers, 17-footers. I read the greens really well. Thought I had good speed on the greens. Really just one putt that ran away from me and I three-putted it.' Buhai had a share of the lead for the second straight day after opening with a 63 to match Yan Liu. The 35-year-old South African player parred the final five holes Friday in a 68. 'It's always difficult to follow a low one, but I'm pretty happy how I played today,' said Buhai, the 2022 Women's British Open winner. 'Pins were a little trickier, but still some that were gettable. Missed a few more greens, but proud of how I hung in there. Made good up-and-downs to keep me in it today.' Minjee Lee was 12 under after a 65 in the morning. She won the 2019 tournament at Wilshire Country Club. 'I think just being in the right spot off the tee and, obviously, just hitting good iron shots into the greens,' Lee said. 'Some of the greens are a little bit bigger, there are bigger landing spots.' The tournament is being played at El Caballero because of renovations at Wilshire. It will return to Wilshire next season. Liu had a 70 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under with Lauren Coughlin (67) and Miyu Yamashita (65). Top-ranked Nelly Korda was 9 under after a 68 in her final start before her title defense next week in Houston in the major Chevron Championship. 'In the middle of the front nine just had a little bit after hiccup with kind of a silly double and a bogey to back it up,' Korda said. 'So, fought my way back to even through nine and kind of played some solid golf on the back nine.' Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul also was 9 under, shooting 67. Two-time defending champion Hannah Green was 8 under after a 67. Asterisk Talley, the 16-year-old Californian playing on a sponsor exemption missed the cut by a stroke, shooting 69-72. The recent runner-up at the Augusta National Women's Amateur , she was second last year at El Caballero in the U.S. Girls Junior.
Associated Press
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lindblad joins Buhai atop the leaderboard in the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ingrid Lindblad took a share of the lead into the weekend at El Caballero Country Club in only the fourth start of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour. Lindblad shot a career-best 9-under 63 in cool conditions Friday afternoon to join Ashleigh Buhai atop the leaderboard at 13-under 131 in the JM Eagle LA Championship. 'I feel like if you put the work in, like eventually it's going to show up,' said Lindblad, the 25-year-old former LSU star from Sweden. 'Obviously, it's hard to tell exactly when it's going to show up, but, obviously, I feel like I've been working on good things in my golf game that I need to get better at. After a day like this, it shows that it paid off.' With the temperature only climbing into the low 60s on an overcast day, Lindblad had 10 birdies and a bogey on the first 14 holes. She parred the final four. 'I thought I read the greens really well,' Lindblad said. 'It wasn't just like tap-ins for par. It was 10-footers, 17-footers. I read the greens really well. Thought I had good speed on the greens. Really just one putt that ran away from me and I three-putted it.' Buhai had a share of the lead for the second straight day after opening with a 63 to match Yan Liu. The 35-year-old South African player parred the final five holes Friday in a 68. 'It's always difficult to follow a low one, but I'm pretty happy how I played today,' said Buhai, the 2022 Women's British Open winner. 'Pins were a little trickier, but still some that were gettable. Missed a few more greens, but proud of how I hung in there. Made good up-and-downs to keep me in it today.' Minjee Lee was 12 under after a 65 in the morning. She won the 2019 tournament at Wilshire Country Club. 'I think just being in the right spot off the tee and, obviously, just hitting good iron shots into the greens,' Lee said. 'Some of the greens are a little bit bigger, there are bigger landing spots.' The tournament is being played at El Caballero because of renovations at Wilshire. It will return to Wilshire next season. Liu had a 70 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under with Lauren Coughlin (67) and Miyu Yamashita (65). Top-ranked Nelly Korda was 9 under after a 68 in her final start before her title defense next week in Houston in the major Chevron Championship. 'In the middle of the front nine just had a little bit after hiccup with kind of a silly double and a bogey to back it up,' Korda said. 'So, fought my way back to even through nine and kind of played some solid golf on the back nine.' Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul also was 9 under, shooting 67. Two-time defending champion Hannah Green was 8 under after a 67. Asterisk Talley, the 16-year-old Californian playing on a sponsor exemption missed the cut by a stroke, shooting 69-72. The recent runner-up at the Augusta National Women's Amateur, she was second last year at El Caballero in the U.S. Girls Junior. ___ AP golf:
NBC Sports
18-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Two tied at LPGA event in LA; Nelly Korda four back after hitting every green
LOS ANGELES — Yan Liu birdied the final three holes in chilly conditions Thursday afternoon for a 9-under 63 and a share of the first-round lead with Ashleigh Buhai in the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship. With the temperature barely reaching 60 degrees at El Caballero Country Club, Liu overcame an opening bogey to play the next nine in 7 under — making a 6-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th and five birdies. 'I got bogey and next hole I tell myself, 'You have to be calm and you have to be confident and be brave. You can do it,′' Liu said. 'Yeah, just talk with myself.' After straight five pars, she birdied the par-5 seventh and made short birdie putts on Nos. 8 and 9. Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, the 27-year-old Chinese player had the lowest score of her tour career. 'Everything perfect, but not my driver,' Liu said. 'But just little things. Right now my driver is a little too much fade, but I will figure out tomorrow.' Buhai had nine birdies in her bogey-free morning round. The 35-year-old South African player won the 2022 AIG Women's Open for the first of her two LPGA Tour victories. 'The pins were in locations we could access them today as long as you use the slopes correctly,' Buhai said. 'If you hit it into the right bowls you'll get good results. Otherwise, you can short side yourself very easily.' Frida Kinhult birdied the last three holes for a 64 in the second-to-last group of the day off the first tee. The tournament is being played at El Caballero because of renovations at Wilshire Country Club. It will return to Wilshire next season. Madelene Sagstrom, coming off a victory two weeks ago in the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas , closed with a hole-on-one to join In Gee Chun, Miranda Wang, Jeongeun Lee6 and Jenny Shin at 65. The ace on the 120-yard ninth was the Swede's first in competition and the only one on the tour this season. 'It's weird because I actually got to see it,' said Sagstrom, who played in the morning alongside top-ranked Nelly Korda and two-time defending champion Hannah Green. 'That's the best part. You get to see it go in.' Sei Young Kim was at 66 with Lauren Coughlin, Aditi Ashok, Akie Iwai, Saki Baba and Yu Liu. Korda opened with a 67 in her final start before her title defense next week in Houston in the major Chevron Championship. 'Hit 18 out of 18 greens, so my bogeys were three-putts, which I made one on the last hole, so I am not feeling too great about that,' Korda said. 'But other than that, I played really solid off the tee and into the greens.' Four of the top five in the world ranking are playing the final event on the West Coast swing. Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul overcame a late double bogey with an eagle in a 68 in the afternoon, and No. 4 Lilia Vu and No. 5 Green each shot 69. No. 3 Lydia Ko skipped the event. California teenager Asterisk Talley shot 69, playing on a sponsor exemption. She was the runner-up at the Augusta National Women's Amateur . Last year, she was second at El Caballero in the U.S. Girls Junior.
Associated Press
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Yan Liu, Ashleigh Buhai share lead at 63 in the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yan Liu birdied the final three holes in chilly conditions Thursday afternoon for a 9-under 63 and a share of the first-round lead with Ashleigh Buhai in the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship. With the temperature barely reaching 60 degrees (15.5 degrees Celsius) at El Caballero Country Club, Liu overcame an opening bogey to play the next nine in 7 under — making a 6-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th and five birdies. 'I got bogey and next hole I tell myself, `You have to be calm and you have to be confident and be brave. You can do it,′' Liu said. 'Yeah, just talk with myself.' After straight five pars, she birdied the par-5 seventh and made short birdie putts on Nos. 8 and 9. Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, the 27-year-old Chinese player had the lowest score of her tour career. 'Everything perfect, but not my driver,' Liu said. 'But just little things. Right now my driver is a little too much fade, but I will figure out tomorrow.' Buhai had nine birdies in her bogey-free morning round. The 35-year-old South African player won the 2022 Women's British Open for the first of her two LPGA Tour victories. 'The pins were in locations we could access them today as long as you use the slopes correctly,' Buhai said. 'If you hit it into the right bowls you'll get good results. Otherwise, you can short side yourself very easily.' Frida Kinhult birdied the last three holes for a 64 in the second-to-last group of the day off the first tee. The tournament is being played at El Caballero because of renovations at Wilshire Country Club. It will return to Wilshire next season. Madelene Sagstrom, coming off a victory two weeks ago in the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas, closed with a hole-on-one to join In Gee Chun, Miranda Wang, Jeongeun Lee6 and Jenny Shin at 65. The ace on the 120-yard ninth was the Swede's first in competition and the only one on the tour this season. 'It's weird because I actually got to see it,' said Sagstrom, who played in the morning alongside top-ranked Nelly Korda and two-time defending champion Hannah Green. 'That's the best part. You get to see it go in.' Sei Young Kim was at 66 with Lauren Coughlin, Aditi Ashok, Akie Iwai, Saki Baba and Yu Liu. Korda opened with a 67 in her final start before her title defense next week in Houston in the major Chevron Championship. 'Hit 18 out of 18 greens, so my bogeys were three putts, which I made one on the last hole, so I am not feeling too great about that,' Korda said. 'But other than that, I played really solid off the tee and into the greens.' Four of the top five in the world ranking are playing the final event on the West Coast swing. Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul overcame a late double bogey with an eagle in a 68 in the afternoon, and No. 4 Lilia Vu and No. 5 Green each shot 69. No. 3 Lydia Ko skipped the event. California teenager Asterisk Talley shot 69, playing on a sponsor exemption. She was the runner-up at the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Last year, she was second at El Caballero in the U.S. Girls Junior. ___ AP golf:
