By REY C. LACHICA
Asian Games gold medal winner Yuka Saso made heads turn in the opening round of the US Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club on Thursday in Houston, Texas.
Though Saso bogeyed the 11th and 18th holes, her two-under-par 69 put her just two shots behind American leader Amy Olson, who made a hole-in-one for a 67 and one shot lead over Thai Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, 2019 Women’s British Open champion Hinako Shibuno of Japan and South Korean Kim A-Lim.
Banking on her brute strength off the tee, the 19-year-old Fil-Japanese gunned down four birdies in the frontnine including the 5th and 9th holes which at are both par-5 for a 32.
The PSA co-Athlete of the Year two years ago even held the lead after birdying the 9th hole. But things went rough the rest of the way.
Also shooting a 69 were reigning British Women’s Open champion Sophia Popov of Germany, Sweden’s Linnea Strom and Linn Grant, Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, England’s Charley Hull, and American Gerina Piller.
Bianca Pagdanganan, Saso’s teammate in the gold-winning PH team during the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, was not far behind after turning in a 72. She was also doing great but a double bogey on the fifth hurt her bid.
Saso earned an invite in the prestigious event after winning two legs in the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA), She earned a little over P43 million in 12 tournaments.
The 68th-ranked Olson, who is in search of not only her first major title but her first LPGA crown, highlighted her round with an ace at the par-three 16th, where she had 141 yards to the pin and went with an eight-iron.
“The wind was kind of coming off my right a little bit and the pin’s on the right. So I hit a little cut to hold the breeze and it was literaily perfect,” said Olson, who threw her arms up and laughed with delight as her ball took a small hop and rolled into the cup.
”It landed two paces short of the flag and had some good spin on it and just trickled in,” Olson said. ”We saw the whole thing, which is fun.”
Although coronavirus restrictions meant there was no roar from a crowd, Olson was happy to savor the moment.
Both world number one Ko Jin-young and South Korean compatriot and defending champion Lee6 Jeong-eun carded opening rounds of two-over 73.
World number two Kim Sei-young, who has a chance to topple Ko from atop the rankings this week, opened with a one-over par 72. (With a report from AFP)
