Sawt Falasteen - Buhai closes strong to take LPGA NW Arkansas Championship lead

"I felt I played just as well as yesterday. Obviously the winds were a little trickier than yesterday morning for us, so kind of faded out for everybody," said Buhai, who posted a four-under par 67 for an 11-under par 36-hole total of 131 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.

One back to start the day, South Africa's Buhai birdied the first hole. But a double bogey at the eighth left her needing to gain ground.

She birdied nine and 11, and after a bogey at 13 she birdied 14, 15, 17 and 18 to power past Dottie Ardina of the Philippines, who carded a 67 for 10-under 132.

"I did start to get a little frustrated, but I was hitting a lot of good shots," Buhai said. "Made a silly double bogey, but at least I kept calm and just reminded myself to keep doing what I was doing, and finally got rewarded down the last few holes."

Buhai, whose two LPGA victories include a major title at the 2022 Women's British Open, is battling to claim a spot in the 60-player Tour Championship field after a season disrupted by injury.

She battled back injuries and a broken toe -- playing the Paris Olympics with a piece of one shoe cut away because of her toe trouble.

The 35-year-old led after the first round of the Queen City Championship this month on the way to a tie for 14th and said she'd try not to think about holding the lead going into the final round of the 54-hole event.

"If I go out tomorrow and try to do my job well that's all I can do," she said. "Hopefully the rest will take care of itself."

Ardina, chasing a first LPGA title, was 11-under after a blistering start that saw her birdie the first then pick up four strokes in three holes with birdies at the fourth and sixth sandwiched around a hole out eagle at the fifth.

Thailand's Arpichaya Yubol had six birdies in a six-under par 65 to join a group of four sharing third place on nine-under 133.

She was joined by Japan's Nasa Hataoka, who had seven birdies to offset a double bogey in her five-under 66.

Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn and Mexico's Gaby Lopez both carded four-under par 67s to join the group on nine-under.

Eight players shared seventh on 132. Overnight leader Jasmine Suwannapura carded a one-over 72 that left her tied for 15th on 133.

Lopez, who played collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas in nearby Fayetteville, shook off a triple-bogey at the par-five 14th to card a five-under 66.

"It's probably the best mental round that I've had," she said. "After having a triple bogey, it's so easy to kind of just lose yourself and lose patience."

R.Shaban--SF-PST