Ashleigh Buhai was in a share of sixth after the first round on Thursday of the LPGA Tour’s Mizuho Americas Open in Jersey City, New Jersey, after she signed for an opening three-under-par 69.
Buhai started her round on the 10th, and she battled her way around her opening nine holes in one-over-par with two birdies and three bogeys. But she produced a sparkling run of five birdies in six holes after the turn from the third hole, and, although she bogeyed her final hole, the ninth, she was just three strokes off the lead.
It is rare occurrence when both the first- and second-alternate at an LPGA Tour event get into the field on a Thursday morning, and it is rarer still when the alternates end up at the top of the leaderboard after the late call-in. But, that is exactly what happened for LPGA Tour rookies Mao Saigo and So Mi Lee. The first-alternate in the field, Japan’s Saigo shot a four-under 68 during the first round and sits in a share of second, while second-alternate Lee holds the solo lead after a six-under 66.
Paula Reto started her round with a birdie on the first, but battled after that, making four bogeys and just one more birdie on her way to a two-over 74 and a share of 76th.
