Ashleigh Buhai closed with a one-over-par 73 on Sunday to finish in a share of 21st in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Golf Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
Buhai made three birdies and four bogeys to finish on two-over for the tournament, seven shots off the five-under winning total of In Gee Chun, who held off the charges of Lexi Thompson and Minjee Lee – although Thompson once again imploded while in control of her own destiny in a major championship.
Chun rallied after losing the rest of her once-sizeable lead, overcoming a bogey-filled front nine to win when Thompson faltered with her putter.
Chun shot a three-over 75 for the second consecutive day at Congressional. After leading by six at the tournament’s midway point, she lost a three-shot advantage in the first three holes of the final round. Thompson was two strokes ahead of her after the front nine, but Thompson’s putting problems were just beginning.
The 27-year-old Floridian botched a par putt from a couple feet on 14, but a birdie on 15 restored her lead to two. Then she bogeyed the par-five 16th while Chun made birdie, leaving the two players tied with two holes remaining.
Thompson three-putted for bogey on 17, and after an impressive approach from the rough on 18, her birdie putt wasn’t hit firmly enough.
Chun’s approach on the par-four 18th bounced past the hole and just off the back of the green, but she putted to within about five feet and sank her par attempt for the win.
The other South African in the field, Paula Reto, closed off her week with a three-over 75 for a share of 30th on four-over for the tournament.
