FIRING on all cylinders, Yuka Saso stamped her class in her debut in the $2 million Lotte Championship with an eye-popping 64 yesterday (Wednesday in the US) to share the opening-round lead with American veteran Brittany Altomare at the Kapolei Golf Club in Oahu, Hawaii.
On a day of sub-par scores, Saso exploited her early-morning flight when it was less windy to transform the par-72, 6,397-yard course in Hawaii’s third largest island into her personal playground as she shot a bogey-free round.
With her driving and putting working perfectly, the Filipino-Japanese mesmerized everyone on the front nine, gunning down six birdies on hole No. 4 and from Nos. 6 to 10 to surge out in front in the 72-hole tournament offering a top pot of $300,000 (roughly P14.5 million).
She capped her blazing performance with back-to-back birdies in the last two holes for impeccable nines of 31-33, finding herself in a tie at the top with Altomare, who likewise waxed hot in the front nine with seven straight birdies for a scorching 29.
“I just got lucky today. I wasn’t really expecting anything so I’m happy I was able to play good,” Saso said in the post-match press briefing as she downplayed her remarkable form in her maiden outing in the event sponsored by South Korean conglomerate Lotte.
Prodded to say what the key factor was for her superb showing, the Filipino-Japanese replied: “Iron play. It was pretty good, I was able to hit where I wanted to hit. Your irons have to be good to shoot under par. I’m happy my iron shots were good today.”
She was likewise grateful to be given a sponsorship’s invitation to the competition, noting that “it’s really a good opportunity for me to learn. And also learn from other golfers who play here (on the US ladies tour).”
Aware that she would be playing in an afternoon flight in the second round when the winds could get gusty, Saso admitted: “Honestly, I don’t really like windy golf courses. But I’m working on it. I’m working on my golf to be able to play good in windy conditions.
“I think I just have to be careful with my drives and keep it on the fairways as much as possible. Just trust the process.”
In contrast to Saso’s outstanding performance, compatriots Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanangan struggled with 75 and 76, respectively, and stood in danger of missing the 36-hole cut.
Ardina, who won a gold medal in the 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games, was in an 11-way logjam at 119th place while Pagdanganan was further down the ladder in a tie with five others in 131st spot.
Saso, who bagged the 2020 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year award for her stellar performance in her rookie season in the tough Japanese LPGA tour, showcased her all-around game on the island famous for its exotic Waikiki Beach, a top Hawaiian tourist attraction.
The 2018 Asian Games double gold medalist hit 10 of the layout’s 14 fairways and 17 of the 18 greens in regulation, needing just 27 putts to finish the round.
But Saso won’t have time to revel in her outstanding play, with most of the big guns on the US ladies tour breathing down her and Altomare’s necks.
Just one shot down in a three-way deadlock for second spot at 65 was South Korean So Yeon Ryu, along with Americans Ally Ewing and Nelly Korda.
So, who also shot a bogey-free round, is a two-time major winner, ruling the 2011 US Women’s Open and 2017 ANA Inspiration championship, while Korda finished runner-up in the same tournament in 2020 and finished third in the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship.
Lurking three strokes behind at 67 was a bunch of seven golfers that included 2020 US LPGA Player of the Year and Women’s PGA defending champion Sei Young Kim of South Korea and popular New Zealander Lydia Ko, a former world No. 1 and winner of the 2016 edition of the ANA Inspiration crown.
