GOLF: South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai Streaks 3 Strokes Ahead at Women’s British Open

South African golfer Ashleigh Buhai has streaked ahead of her rivals at the Women’s British Open in Milton Keynes in the UK, leading by three strokes at the halfway point.

For the 30-year-old South African it’s unchartered territory. She’s never led a major before or even finished in the top 25!

The pressure’s huge, and she says she’s trying to treat the championship as just another week in the office.

“I’m trying not to keep thinking it’s a major,” she said.

“It’s something I’ve been working on the last few weeks, because I’ve been under the gun, whether it be making the cut or having three good rounds and one bad round.”

On Friday Buhai compiled a bogey-free five-under-par 67 at Woburn – where the purse is $4,500,000 –  to head a leaderboard that included players from seven countries in the top eight.

She posted a 12-under 132 halfway total. Japan’s Hinako Shibuno shot 69 for second place on nine-under, with American Lizette Salas (67) another shot back in third.

The South African said: “My focus is just trying to keep my tension the same, whether I’m putting, hitting (because) that’s something I can control.”

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters and Jenni Baxter/SAPeople)