Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko has continued her steady form with a top-10 finish at the Women's British Open Major in Scotland.
After starting the final day tied for 19th, Ko saved her best for last, shooting a three-under 68 to finish in a six-way tie seventh at the Muirfield course.
The score was her best of the tournament and third best of the day, leaving her five shots behind winner Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa.
After stumbling with an early bogey, Ko recovered emphatically with three straight birdies then added another at the 17th to finish at five-under overall for the tournament.
The result comes a week after the 25-year-old's fifth placing at the Scottish Open. She also finished third in the Evian Championship Major at the end of last month.
Buhai won her first major title, after beating South Korean Chun In-gee in a thrilling playoff at Muirfield.
She held a five-shot lead going to the final round, but a triple bogey on the 15th hole put her level with Chun. Both Buhai and Chun missed long birdies on the 18th and headed into a playoff, after finishing 10 under-par in regulation play.
Under pressure, the South African held her nerve and survived three playoff holes against Chun, before battling back with a glorious bunker shot on the fourth playoff hole.
Buhai then stroked home her par putt to seal the playoff win, sparking celebration from her husband, while Chun had to settle for second after a bogey.
"I know there are a lot of people in South Africa with a lot of grey hairs right now, after that 15th hole,"Buhai said.
"But I was very proud of the way I dug deep to keep myself together and get into the play-off. I was surprisingly calm. I just tried to stay in the moment.
"My caddie said, show them why you're No. 1 in bunkers. Maybe it's something to do with South Africans here in bunkers.
"For me to be a female South African major winner, I have no words, it's life changing."
Buhai becomes the second women's Major winner from South Africa, joining Sally Little.
Reuters/Newshub.
