Buhai wins marathon playoff as Maguire surges to fourth

Ashleigh Buhai survived a violent wobble late in her final round to win the AIG Women's Open at the fourth playoff hole against Korea's In Ghee Chun at Muirfield.

It was a landmark Sunday for Ireland's Leona Maguire who recorded the low round of the day, a five under par 66, to surge into a tie for fourth, her best ever finish at a major championship.

33-year-old Buhai, who had yet to win an LPGA event in 220 starts, took a five-stroke lead into the final round after rounds of 65 and 64 on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

On a nervy afternoon, Buhai was out in a one-over par 37, marked by bogeys at the 2nd and 9th and a birdie at the 6th. The South African appeared to have steadied the ship on the back nine until a disastrous triple bogey at the 15th brought her back to the pack.

The reigning Women's PGA Champion Chun started the day in second spot on nine under, birdieing three of the first five holes to crank up the pressure on Buhai. Bogeys on the 10th and 12th appeared to doom her challenge until Buhai's travails on 15.

In the end, Buhai had to hole a knee-knocking four footer to force a playoff, which dragged on for a further hour as it took four holes to separate the pair.

In the fading light on the 18th, Buhai clipped a glorious bunker shot to 2ft as Chun struggled to bogey. Eventually, the South African stroked home her par putt to spark wild celebrations from her husband and supporters on the green.

Maguire, starting the day 12 strokes behind leader Buhai, shot up the leaderboard on Sunday with a superb 66 around the storied course.

A blemish free round, decorated by an eagle at the par-5 fifth with birdies at the 4th, 11th and 13th saw Maguire rise to a tie for fourth by the close of play, only three