Saso takes crack at LPGA

Yuka Saso, one of the country’s top bets for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, is taking a shot at the pro ranks.

Currently one of the highest-ranked Asians in the world women’s amateur rankings at 20th, Saso is flying to Japan on Thursday to compete in the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (LPGA) of Japan qualifying tournament.

The recently crowned Girls Junior PGA champion and double gold medalist in the Asian Games in Indonesia last year will stay there for two weeks before flying to Florida for the second stage of the LPGA Qualifying School in Venice.

In Venice, Saso will see herself in the same field as Asian Games teammate Bianca Pagdanganan, who clinched medalist honors in the first leg at the Mission Hills Resort in Rancho, Mirage.

Saso will compete as an amateur in both events, giving her the option to keep her status whatever results the Fil-Japanese obtains.

She has already cleared these plans with her coach at the University of Georgia, the school with which she has already committed to for the NCAA next year.

“I guess it’s time,” Saso told the Inquirer. “We’ll see what happens after the next two months then I’ll make the big decision [of turning pro].”

Saso’s world ranking at the moment already makes her qualified for the Olympics together with Dottie Ardina.