Top-seeded Yuka Saso of the Philippines made short work of American Kaylee Sakoda, 6&4, to advance to the round-of-32 of the US Girls’ Junior Championship on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) even as a lot of seeds took the door in the opening round at Stevens Point in Wisconsin.
One of those who got the boot early was the second-ranked Maddison Hindon-Tolchard of Australia, who bowed to No. 63 Caroline Hodge of New York after 19 holes.
Even though she admitted the other day that she really is not comfortable in match play, Saso didn’t give Sakoda a chance.
The Filipino-Japanese, a double gold medal winner in the last Asian Games, birdied four of her five holes from No. 10 to close out the Californian and arrange a clash with Delaware’s Phoebe Brinker, who nipped Colombia’s Valery Plata, 1-up.
“Yeah, I was nervous,” said Saso, who shot six-under-par in just 14 holes. “I’m kind of tired, so I might just rest for today (Wednesday). Long day tomorrow (Thursday).”