NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 28, 2024

Ashleigh Buhai

Pinnacle Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Ashleigh Buhai after her second round. Another solid round. Top of the leaderboard going into tomorrow. How did it go out there today?

ASHLEY BUHAI: Yeah, it was good. 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.

I did start to get a little frustrated, but I was hitting a lot of good shots. 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.

Q. Were you keeping an eye on the leaderboard at all? You had those two past birdies for the push to get on top.

ASHLEY BUHAI: Yeah, I kind of had a look. Made birdie on 14, 15; had a look at the leaderboard on 16 and saw I was one behind. I was like, okay, at least if I can hit a great shot in on 17, and then, yeah, hit it to about six feet on 18 and holed the putt, too.

Q. You've been in this position before going to bed with a lead headed into the final round. What are you thinking about throughout tonight and into tomorrow?

ASHLEY BUHAI: Tonight just don't think about it basically. Obviously, easier said than done. You know, staying in housing here. We're going to barbecue tonight, Dave is going to barbecue tonight and take my mind off it. Again, if I go out tomorrow and try to do my job well, the one thing I'm trying to do, that's all I can do; hopefully the rest will take care of itself.

Q. So playing here in this tournament, we've talked to other players about the community aspect. You're staying in housing. Kind of makes it feel like home. When you're playing tomorrow and you are in the final round and you have this lead, how does that channel into you playing tomorrow?

ASHLEY BUHAI: It's great. The support we always get at this tournament is unreal. The community gets behind it. A lot of us players have been staying with the same families for years. I'm in a tenth year with a host family I am with.

It's great that the LPGA have this community behind us. And a lot of stops on the road. We have multiple host families so makes it a little bit special. Yeah, hopefully we'll have that support tomorrow and we can carry it with us.

Q. Sitting at 11-under, is that the number you expected through 36 holes out here?

ASHLEY BUHAI: No. I didn't expect any number. I never go into a tournament with a number in my head. Obviously it's renowned for more of a low scoring tournament. Three days. Bit of a shootout. But the course is great condition and I think that's why the scores are really good.