Ashleigh places fifth in AIG Women’s British Open

From playing amateur golf to the golfing world stage, Bedfordview’s Ashleigh Buhai has placed fifth in the AIG Women’s British Open 2019 and will next tackle the Canadian Women’s Open.

Ashleigh reached the final group, placing fifth in the AIG Women’s British Open played from August 1 to 4 at the Woburn Golf Club in the UK.

She sees this as a great achievement after much dedication and practice, which she has been doing since childhood.

The EXPRESS has followed Ashleigh’s career since her early teens when she won the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Ladies Club Championships.

She has been living in Bedfordview for the past 24 years, is a Holy Rosary School alumni and started her golfing career at just eight years old at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

“It sounds crazy, but at the age of eight years old, I already knew I wanted to be a professional golfer,” said Ashleigh.

At 11, Ashleigh started playing in foundation tournaments during school holidays.

“I was the only girl at the time, so I would compete in the boys’ competitions. It later led me to play in ladies amateur events at the age of 12, where I represented Gauteng in provincial tournaments,” said Ashleigh.

While playing ladies amateur tournaments, Ashleigh was also selected to represent South Africa at a senior level when she turned 13.

She played for the first time in New Zealand in the Commonwealth tournament, which is only played every five years.

“I then went on to represent South Africa every year after the Commonwealth tournament until I turned pro at 18,” said Ashleigh.

Ashleigh said her father would also take her to America once a year, where she competed in junior tournaments.

Just a week before the British Open, Ashleigh played in the major Evian Championship in France, where she finished 37th.

“I felt I had played steady and that my game was in a good place. It gave me good prep for the British Open.”

She had also kept busy by playing golf in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) for 11 weeks before the British Open.

She is thankful her long golfing career has brought her to the moment of reaching fifth place in a major championship.

“It was such an amazing feeling leading after two days and playing in the final group of the championship on the weekend. It makes all the practice and many months away from home and on the road all worth it,” said Ashleigh.

Ashleigh said her biggest competition is ultimately the golf course, but if she had to choose who her biggest competition was in the tournament, it would be Hinako Shibuno, as she eventually went on to win the tournament.

She said golf for women in SA is growing due to the forming of the Ladies Sunshine Tour.

“Women’s golf has grown tremendously around the world, especially in the US and Asia. I’m very fortunate to be able to make a living playing golf in the LPGA,” said Ashleigh.

She said the representation overseas on tour is still low mainly due to the fact that women cannot get sponsorship in order to play golf and travel.

“It is so difficult to choose what I am most proud of in my career. I always say winning my first South African Amateur double at the age of 14 is what I am most proud of, as it was my first big win,” said Ashleigh.

She sees winning the World Amateur team championship in 2006 in SA as another great achievement.

Ashleigh has also won three times in the Ladies European Tour (LET) and most recently the 2018 Investec SA Women’s Open.

She will be playing in the Canadian Women’s Open from August 21 to 25.

“I will have four weeks off after the Canadian Open. I am looking forward to coming home to SA for some much-needed downtime,” said Ashleigh.