SOUTH African Ashleigh Buhai fired a seven-under-par opening round of 65 to top the leaderboard at the AIG Women’s British Open, on a day when home favourites Georgia Hall and Charley Hull thrilled the huge crowds at Woburn Golf Club.
Hull birdied the last for a flawless 67, while Hall, the defending champion, described the support during her three-under-par 69 as the highlight of her year.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and American Danielle Kang both opened with a 66, and joining Hull on five under were Megan Khang of the USA, Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and Korean Sung Hyun Park.
The opening day belonged to Buhai, however, who had eight birdies and a bogey.
The 30-year-old has won three times on the Ladies European Tour and was the first player in 101 years to win the South African Women’s Open three times in 2004, 2007 and 2018.
Buhai said: “In my last few tournaments I’ve had three good rounds and one not so good round, so I’m hoping this is the week I can do four good rounds.
“I’m feeling really confident with the putter, and it’s been good the last few weeks, and today I managed to just hit a few more greens and rolled in the putts.
“I felt I’ve been swinging it well, I’m hitting the target and into the zones that my coach and I talk about, and holing some really good putts,” Buhai added.
Hull, who is chasing her first Major victory, said: “I feel like I’ve been playing well all year, I’ve just struggled to trust myself sometimes, so that’s where I suppose I haven’t been scoring.
“But I just went out there and trusted myself, and I feel like I’m in a good mindset. I just want to go out there and have fun. That’s the main goal this week.
“I really enjoyed it out there. It was good to make a birdie on the second hole, a par-five, because sometimes when there’s an early par-five and you don’t make a birdie, you feel a bit frustrated.
“Sometimes it’s harder when it’s your home golf course because you know where not to hit it as well as where to hit it.
“For instance, the 13th hole, it’s the first time I’ve hit that fairway for about three years, so I was quite happy about that,” Hull, who finished tied for 17th in 2016 when the Marquess Course at Woburn last hosted the Women’s British Open.
Hall was buzzing after her round after she was cheered onto every tee and green.
“I walked to the first tee and I got so much applause from everybody, it was so nice to be there, and I was actually quite nervous, so I was relieved to hit the fairway,” said 23-year-old Hall, from Dorset.
“It’s already the highlight of my year. I’ve had this much support since this time last year, and I think that most of the people out there were out there to support me.
“It’s just an amazing feeling. It’s probably the best I’ve seen this course and one of the best conditions we play all year, so it was really lovely to kind of experience this course.
“It’s important for me to take all the emotions in and really enjoy it. I loved it out there,” added Hall.
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