Yuka Saso continued her surge as she scored runaway wins to advance to the quarterfinals in the 71st US Girls Junior Golf Championships Thursday at Sentryworld on Thursday.
The top-seeded Saso first bested 33rd seed Phoebe Brinker, 3 and 2, before returning in the afternoon to topple No. 49 Anna Chen, 6 and 4, as she emerged as one of two non-American players standing in the tournament.
More than that, Saso is already assured of a best finish in a match-play event since reaching the semifinals of the 2016 US Women’s Amateur.
“Actually, I didn’t expect the result. But it’s better than I expected,” said the 18-year-old Saso, who is currently No. 25 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Tied after 12 holes in her match against Brinker, Saso pulled away for good after birdying the next three holes.
The Fil-Japanese was sharper and deadlier against Chen.
The reigning Asian Games champion turned in a bogey-free performance en route to her massive win.
Up next for Saso is 40th seed Rose Zhang, who thumped Michaela Bradford, 7 and 6, in the Round of 32 and Kelly Xu, 4 and 3, in the Round of 16.
Though lesser-ranked in this tournament, the 16-year-old Zhang boasts of a No. 22 ranking in the Women’s World Amateur and an impressive showing in her duel against Bradford where she posted eight birdies in 12 holes.
Saso hopes to become the second Filipina to win the tournament since Princess Superal in 2014.
“It’s match play. Anything can happen, so I’m just trying to focus and get ready,” said Saso, who won two gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
