Ashleigh Buhai (nee Simons) defeated defending champion Lee-Anne Pace at the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape on Thursday.
South Africa’s top two players were deadlocked at 8-under-par (214) after 54 holes and had to go back to the short par-four 18th hole for the decider.
Pace had 15 minutes earlier made a 12-foot putt for birdie on the final hole to make 2-under 72 and draw level with Buhai, who two-putted for par for a 1-over 75.
Buhai, chasing her fifth Ladies Sunshine Tour title, secured the victory with a birdie at the first time of asking.
The Glendower pro, who finished runner-up in her last three events, replaces Britain’s Kiran Matharu – who won last week’s Tshwane Open – at the top of the Chase to Investec Cup for Ladies standings.
“I nearly blew it. I mean, I had a six-shot lead through nine holes and then the wheels came off,” Buhai said.
“I hit a few errant drives and paid the price. Lee-Anne was playing well and I knew I was in for a tough ride.
“Thankfully, I found my mojo over the last three holes and the birdie at 16 broke the deadlock. I had a one-shot lead and it could have been two had I holed the short putt at the next. Lee-Anne also lined up a birdie putt and missed narrowly.
“I chose to play it safe on the last hole by teeing off with my five-wood and I found the fairway. My approach found the green and I managed to two-putt for par, and then it was up to Lee-Anne to force a tie. Something inside told me she would make the putt, and that’s how it panned out.
“So back we went to 18 and I adopted the same approach, and luckily for me I managed to keep a cool head and when the putt dropped, what a feeling of relief.”
Pace, who became the first player to win the SA Open for a third year in a row last week, may have seen a different outcome had her putter played ball.
“The greens were great, my putter not,” she said. “Throughout the three days I battled to get the ball into the hole, and it cost me. But Ashley was the better player and she deserves the title.”
SA Master champion Carrie Park closed out the podium with a joint-best low round of 3-under 71.