Galloway, N.J. - Ashleigh Buhai sunk 19 birdies over the weekend and used two consecutive scores of 65 on Saturday and Sunday to win the 2023 rendition of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer at the Seaview Golf Club.
"My goal this year was to win in the U.S.," Buhai said after her win in Galloway. "I hadn't won here yet. After the AIG Women's Open I won in Australia, South Africa, and my goal this year was to get the monkey off my back and finally win here on U.S. soil."
Buhai added, "So to do it, I'm very proud of myself for ticking it off. I've been playing some really solid golf, and knew that if I continued that form, one of these weeks I would be coming in close with a chance to get the job done."
And, get the job done she did. Buhai got off to a hot start on Sunday, birdying four of her first five holes which allowed her to overtake the leader coming into Sunday, Dani Holmqvist, and the tournament runner-up, Hyo Joo Kim, by the sixth hole. Buhai continued through the rest of the day carding three more birdies to just on bogie.
Hyo Joo Kim (Photo by David Venzia - JSN)
Kim did momentarily share the lead with Buhai after Buhai bogied 11, however Kim proceeded to bogie 12 while Buhai birdied 13, giving Buhai a two stroke lead. Kim managed to get within one stroke of Buhai heading into 18, but Buhai birdied 18 to get the two stroke lead back, and, while she managed to birdie 18, Kim was unable to secure the eagle she needed to force a playoff.
"When I was about to hit my second shot, I knew she had already birdied so I knew there was a two-shot difference," Kim said about needing an eagle on 18. "I thought to myself I have to eagle no matter what and can’t hit my approach short no matter what. I really thought it was going in."
Kim later added, "Of course, disappointing to not win, but hoping to continue this momentum to next week and then in the majors too."
Rounding out the top-3, LPGA Tour rookie, Yan Liu finished the tournament at 11-under-par. She struggled initially Sunday, bogying two of the first four holes, but managed to turn things around after that by birdying six of the remaining 14 holes. Liu finished with seven total birdies compared to three bogies for a Sunday round 4-under 67.
"I kind of nervous today front nine holes," Liu said of her play on Sunday. "I very nervous because I'm first time I play good at LPGA Tour. So, I just talk with my caddie. We have very many joke. We talk a little bit with my caddie, so I kind of find my feelings back. So, I do pretty good back nine, yeah."
The Garden State's own, Marina Alex also had a good day. She finished her Sunday round with a 4-under 67 to finish the tournament in a tie for 12th at -8.
Up Next for the LPGA
The LPGA next heads to the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in Grand Rapids, Michigan next weekend before returning to New Jersey for the second major of the season at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at the historic Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield. Tickets for the KPMG Women's PGA Championship start at $35, plus taxes and fees, and can be purchased at https://www.kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com/tickets. Juniors (ages 17 & under) that are accompanied by a ticketed adult and qualifying military members are eligible for complimentary admission.
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