Ashleigh Buhai played herself into the mix on Friday in the second round of the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open with a two-under-par 70 at Dumbarnie Links in Leven, Scotland.
She moved to three-under for the tournament and a share of 13th, six shots off the lead which was held by Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn at nine-under. Jutanugarn had a three-shot lead over England’s Charley Hull, Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark and Thai Atthaya Thitikul.
Buhai had a terrible start to her round with a double-bogey six on the opening hole, but she got her score back on an even keel with birdies on seven and nine to turn in level-par for the round and one-under for the tournament. Another bogey in 10 was immediately redeemed with a birdie on 11. She picked up another stroke with birdie on 13, and then she made eagle on the par-five 15th to move to four-under for the tournament. She unfortunately dropped a shot on the 16th, but, with her liking for links golf, she is certainly in the picture ahead of the weekend.
Paula Reto was the only other South African to make the cut after she moved to one-over for the tournament with her second-round 73.
Lee-Anne Pace and Stacy Bregman missed the cut by just one on three-over, while Nicole Garcia finished up on 17-over.