A series of clutch shots proved the difference for Ashleigh Buhai on Thursday as the South African fired a four-under 68 to take a one stroke lead through two rounds of the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan Island.
The 28-year-old Johannesburg native made birdie on the last hole at Jian Lake Blue Golf Club to get to nine-under 135, a stroke ahead of world No. 3 Feng Shanshan (67) of China. Overnight leader Yoo Sun-young of South Korea struggled in the windy conditions to a 74 to sit four strokes off the pace in third. American Lizette Salas (73) was one stroke further back at the US$2.1 million tournament that is co-sanctioned by the China and US LPGA Tours.
Starting her round two shots off the lead in the final group of the day, Buhai kept it together in the wind to post a round that featured six birdies - four of them over the last seven holes - and two bogeys. The shot of the day included her chip-in at the 12th hole that found the cup from just off the bottom of the green.
"It was downhill and downwind and I hit this lob-wedge, bounced it into the hill perfectly and it just kept trickling. I thought I was happy enough to have it stiff, and the next minute, I looked, it dropped in. It was cool," said Buhai who remains winless in her four years stateside.
Another came at the 14th hole where she drained her putt from the fringe just above the green.
"I just kind of was playing the golf course as it came. It played a lot tougher than the last few days. The wind was more or less the same direction, just a bit stronger, so I think it helps being the same direction as you have an idea what to do. It was just a case of taking more club and just trying to play it with the wind."
Feng, a winner in Japan last week, posted the best round of the day on the strength of six birdies and a bogey to get to eight-under. The big-hitting China No. 1, however, could only muster a par-five at the last after leaving her approach short.
"I knew that after the first round I would be warmed up a little more. I would say my ball-striking today was better, so I was giving myself birdie chances," said the Guangdong native, a bronze medalist at last year's Rio Olympic Games. "My putting was working today also. It continued from last week and I made a few birdies and I mean, just one bogey for the day, it was pretty good."
Feng said she wasn't thinking about back-to-back wins but instead just playing well on her home turf.
"I'm playing in front of all the fans from home. Of course I feel a little bit of pressure, and I'm pretty sure tomorrow will be more people coming to support me. But I just wanted to bring out my 'A' game and enjoy the week."
World No. 1 Park Sung-hyun of South Korea blew up to a 76 to fall nine strokes back, while China's Ye Lei (78) was the top amateur in equal 36th.
