Yuka Saso FILE PHOTO
Yuka Saso picked up five shots in a six-hole stretch from No. 10 on Thursday to shoot a six-under-par 66 as the Philippines grabbed the lead in both the team and individual events going into the final round of the 40th Queen Sirikit Cup at Thana City Country Club in Thailand.
Saso’s birdie splurge allowed the long-hitting Filipino-Japanese to grab a one-stroke lead over Thailand prodigy Atthaya Thitikul and Japan’s Yuna Nishimura with a 135 total after an opening round 69 on Wednesday.
Thitikul shot a bogey-free 65 while Nishimura had a 69 for similar 136 totals.
Harmie Constantino scored a 70 and boosted Team PH ahead in the team event by one over Japan and by two over Thailand and Korea.
The Philippines was at 277, Japan at 278 with Korea and Thailand at 279.
The Philippines has never won this tournament before. In fact, no Southeast Asian country has ever triumphed in the 39-year history of the event.
Saso, meanwhile, can become just the second Filipino to win if she holds it together in the final round on Friday. Dottie Ardina triumphed in 2011 when the Delhi Golf Club in India hosted the event.