REIGNING US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso continues her rise in the world golf rankings.
Saso, 20, jumped two rungs to No. 6 in the rankings after winding up joint ninth in the Tokyo Olympics and 15th in the Women’s Scottish Open. She also tied for 39th in the Women’s Open at Carnoustie.
The Filipino-Japanese star is on a break as top players from the United States and Europe battle for the Solheim Cup at Inverness in Ohio.
Saso gained her previous high of No. 8 after the Tokyo Games.
Olympic gold medalist Nelly Korda of the US remains on top with 10.33 average points, followed by Koreans Jin young Ko (8.42), In Bee Park (7.35) and Sei Young Kim (7.07), with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko in fifth (5.67).Saso has 5.64 average points from 36 events.
In her maiden Olympic stint, Saso scored a 10-under par 274 after a blazing 65 in the final round.
Born in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, Saso was named Athlete of the Year of the Philippine Sportswriters Association last March.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won a historic gold in the women’s 55 kgs, boxer Nesthy Petecio settled for the silver after losing by unanimous decision to Sena Irie of Japan in the women’s featherweight final and another boxer in Carlo Paalam also won a silver in the flyweight class.
