Yuka Saso
She may be amateur in status, but Yuka Saso plays like a seasoned pro.
Defying the wind and tricky surface, the Filipino-Japanese carded an eagle-spiked five-under 67 Thursday and built a five-shot spread over Pauline del Rosario and Thai Ploychompoo Wirairungrueng in the ICTSI Ayala Greenfield Ladies Challenge in Calamba, Laguna.
The 16-year-old Saso birdied Nos. 2 and 3, negated a bogey on No. 5 with a birdie on No. 6, hit another birdie on No. 13 before capping her 34-33 card at Ayala Greenfield Golf and Country Club with an eagle on the par-5 No. 17 off a 50-degree wedge shot from 80 yards that bounced once and rolled into the cup.
Counting her opening 72, Saso pooled a 139 and moved 18 holes away from humbling the pros for the second time.
“I was just lucky to score this low as strong winds lashed the course all day. It was really fantastic,” said Saso, winner of the 2016 LPGT Eagle Ridge.
Del Rosario moved within one off Saso with a 33 start but the newly crowned Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit queen bogeyed two of the last five holes for a 70 and a 144, the same total of Wirairungrueng, who bogeyed No. 17 for a second straight 72.
Thais occupied the next four spots, but Punpaka Phuntumabamrung lay seven shots off at 146 after a 72. Chonlada Chayanun fired a 73 for 148, Saraporn Chamchi a 72 for 149 and Thanuttra Boonsarat, hounded by a quadruple bogey 8 on No. 4, a 78 for 150.
Though Chihiro Ikeda rebounded with a 70, she was too far to challenge at 151 in a tie with Thai Aunchisa Utama, who fumbled with a 74.
Dottie Ardina triple-bogeyed No. 15 and slid to 74 and 152; while Cyna Rodriguez and Princess Superal turned in a 74 and 76, respectively, for joint 11th with Thais Pakpring Duangchan (77), Saruttaya Ngam-usawan (75) and Wannasiri Sirisampant (78) at 154.
Saso is bracing for a rally by Del Rosario and Wirairungrueng.
“My game plan is to play extra cautious and avoid getting into trouble,” said Saso, the reigning national stroke and match play champion. “And I will just play my game to ease up the pressure.” —ROY LUARCA