Ashleigh Buhai carded eight birdies in a seven-under par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Queen City Championship as she vies to finish strong in an injury-disrupted year.
'There has been a few things happened to me this year - back injuries, broken toe,' said the South African, who played the Paris Olympics with a piece of one shoe cut away because of her toe injury.
But Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women's British Open, said her form had been solid, and after two weeks off she was ready to attack the Arnold Palmer-designed TPC River's Bend course, which is hosting the tournament for the first time.
'I think I was smart with when I could attack,' said Buhai, who had four birdies on the front nine and four on the back.
With her two-putt birdie at 18 she had a one-stroke lead over Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul and China's Liu Yan.
