Ashleigh Buhai closed with a superb five-under-par 66 on Sunday to climb into the top 20 of the LPGA Tour’s Dana Open in Sylvania, Ohio.
Although the Women’s Open champion bogeyed the first hole, she made seven birdies. There was just one more bogey on her card, as she climbed from 33rd after the third round into a share of 16th. The tournament was won by Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, who carded a closing eight-under-par 63 to overhaul 54-hole leader Lucy Li of the United States.
The teenaged Li slipped to a share of fourth with her closing one-under 70. Lopez, at 18-under for the tournament, won by one from Meghan Kang of the United States who signed off with a seven-under 64. Caroline Masson of Germany was in third on 16-under.
After Buhai’s opening bogey, she made two birdies in a row on two and three. There were two more in succession on eight and nine ahead of the turn, and then she followed her bogey on 12 with two more in a row on 13 and 14. She rounded out her week’s work with a final birdie on the 17th.
Lopez started the final round four shots back of the lead in a tie for 11th at 10-under, and there was no other option but to go low. Lopez did exactly that, her Sunday 63 tying her career-low 18-hole score to earn her third career LPGA Tour title.
