YUKA Saso’s historic US Women’s Open triumph at the fabled Olympic Club Lake course in San Francisco, California yesterday was celebrated both at home and in Japan where she is a prominent figure in the Japanese LPGA tour.
Not too many were perhaps aware that two ranked outsiders and JPLGA regulars battled for the prestigious championship, with Saso, 19, completing a big and successful comeback with a birdie on the third playoff hole to beat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.
The playoff win capped an incredible uphill struggle by Saso to reach the US Women’s Open pinnacle as she started with double bogeys on the second and third second holes of the final round. The win reasserted her status as an outstanding clutch performer.
“Yuka has brought much needed pride and honor to the Philippine. She was a product of a junior golf program so many years ago that was being supported by ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services Inc.), which is also her sponsor now as a pro,” noted Philippine Golf Tour director Luigi Tabuena.
In a statement, ICTSI said: “ICTSI congratulates Ms. Yuka Saso for winning and being the first Filipino to win in a major golf championship that is probably one of the hardest to win — the recently concluded 76th US Women’s Open golf championship.
“Her ICTSI family thanks Yuka for the pride and joy she gives the country. We likewise commend her for her hard work, perseverance and dedication to training, and most especially for remaining humble despite her recent successes. She is and will continue to be a role model for the golfing community. May she also serve as an inspiration to our Filipino athletes in breaking through internationally.
“ICTSI will continue supporting Yuka in her golfing career, and we look forward to more victories.”
“Bravo, Yuka! We Filipinos are so proud of you! With so much time still ahead of you, your future certainly still holds so many more great achievements to come for you, and so many honors for your native country as well,” veteran basketball writer Bert Ramirez posted on his Facebook page after witnessing the golfer’s outing on TV.
“Congratulations and keep it up, girl!”Ramirez gushed.
Understandably, leading Japanese LPGA officials also crowed over Saso’s epic achievement.
“Congratulations on winning the US Women’s Open. It’s really wonderful. My heart trembled! To see Saso and Hataoka fighting for the championship is truly inspiring,” JLPGA chair Hiroshi Kobayashi said in a statement posted on the tour’s website.
“Women golf players not only in Japan but also around the world long to win this tournament. Truly Saso’s effort was the best,” Kobayasi added.
“Congratulations to Ms. Saso for winning. It is inspiring to see someone who is active on the Japanese tour winning the US Women’s Open, a golf major. The birth of this new star will inspire a lot of Japanese players and is a big boost for Japanese golf,” stressed JPLGA advisor Hisako Higuchi.
Among those who witnessed the Filipina’s dramatic victory were her friends from her junior golfer days, Americans Aneka Seumanutafa and Kailie Vongsaga, according to writer Emilia Migliaccio in a story posted on golfchannel.com yesterday.
“The two got to witness a historic moment from their childhood friend,” Migliaccio wrote.
“We were both shaking. Our hearts were racing, definitely more nervous than she was,” Seumanutafa said following the awards ceremony. “Being friends with her in junior golf and now seeing her thrive is so cool to see.”
“I had chills the whole time and was in tears by the end of it,” said Vongsaga.
