Saso joins hunt as Manila Golf Classic unwraps

Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso adds star power to the ICTSI Manila Golf Ladies Classic, where, as an amateur, is also listed as one of the favorites starting Wednesday at the par-71 layout inside posh Forbes Park.

Fresh from a finishing third in the historic Augusta National Women’s Amateur at the home of the US Masters last Saturday, the Fil-Japanese will be bringing with her a form and confidence coming from playing against the best amateurs in the world.

Incidentally, she also won the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open crown at Manila Golf in February.

The long-hitting 17-year-old Saso also placed second to world No. 1 Park Sung-hyun in the first The Country Club Ladies Invitational last month then flaunted her world-class form by rallying from joint 11th with a closing 69 to finish in the top three in Augusta, Georgia.

That makes her one of the marked players in the star-studded $100,000 championship with the likes of TLPGA No. 3 Babe Liu and Thai Yupaporn Kawinpakorn are also entered.