KUALA LUMPUR: It was a day to savour for South African golfer Ashleigh Buhai as she recorded her career's first LPGA Tour hole-in-one during the third round of the Maybank Championship on Saturday.
The 34-year-old, who was the Women's British Open champion last year, achieved this feat on the par-three fourth hole at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club's west course.
It marked the first hole-in-one of this week's US$3mil (RM14.33mil) tournament.
Unfortunately, the ace doesn't come with any reward.
However, for Buhai, it held special significance.
Thanks to her achievement, a generous sum of US$20,000 (RM95,600) will be donated to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee, United States.
The LPGA Tour's main sponsor, CME Group, has committed to donate this amount for every hole-in-one made during the LPGA Tour season.
Including Buhai's ace, a total of 16 hole-in-ones have been recorded this year.
"I think it was about 98 meters, which was a perfect yardage for a full gap wedge. Hit it straight at the pin. Pitched like two yards short," said Buhai, who shot a 70 to tie for 46th place on four-under 212 total.
"I couldn't see it go in, but we heard from the crowd at the top that it went in."
Although a brand-new BMW I7 was displayed at hole 15, it was merely for exhibition purposes and not up for grabs.
"That's very cool. Forgot completely about that," said Buhai when asked about the donation she had contributed.
"At least it's going towards something. Tonya (Patterson, caddie) is disappointed there was no car, but that's going to be a much better cause."