
Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso was holding the lead for a brief moment before falling two shots behind Amy Olson in the first round of the US Women’s Open Thursday at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.
The 19-year-old Filipino-Japanese fired a two-under 69 on four birdies in the front nine including the par-5 5th and 9th holes that gave her a 32.
However, Saso bogeyed the 11th and 18th as Olson, who made a hole-in-one for a 67, took the leadership for a one shot lead over Thai Moriya Jutanugarn, 2019 Women's British Open champion Hinako Shibuno of Japan and South Korean Kim A-Lim.
The 68th-ranked Olson – in search of her first major title and first LPGA crown, highlighted her round with an ace at the par-three 16th, where she had 141 yards to the pin and went with an eight-iron.
Saso finished the first round tied for fifth to 11th places with Gerina Piller of the United States, Sweden’s Linnea Strom and Linn Grant, Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit, England's Charley Hull, and British Women's Open champion Sophia Popov of Germany.
Through nine holes, Saso found herself with a one shot lead at 4-under.
However, her bogeys on 11 and on 18 proved costly that allowed Olson to take the solo spot on top of the leaderboard.
Bianca Pagdanganan, who won gold medal with Saso in the team event of the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games back in 2018, shot a 72. She birdied in 1, 10 and 11, but committed bogeys on 6 and 14, and a double bogey on 5.
Saso, a rookie in the Japan LPGA Tour, received an invite in the prestigious event after winning two legs in the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association where she has so far earned approximately P43 million in 12 tournaments.
World No. 1 Ko Jin-young and South Korean compatriot and defending champion Lee6 Jeong-eun carded opening rounds of two-over 73, while world No. 2 Kim Sei-young had a 72.