Filipino-Japanese Yuka Saso fired a two-under-par 69 in the opening round of the 2021 US Women’s Open Championship Thursday, June 3, at the Lake Course of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
Saso is two shots behind leaders Megha Ganne of the US and English golfer Mel Reid, who both carded four-under-67. The Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year finished the first round tied for fourth to sixth spots with 14-time LPGA tour champion Lexi Thompson and China’s Shanshan Feng.
The 19-year-old Tokyo Olympics-bound Saso mixed her first round performance with birdies on 1, 7,13 and 18, but she committed a pair of bogeys, which occurred at the front nine on 2 and 4.
A double gold medal winner in the last Asian Games in Indonesia, this is only the second time that Saso is playing in the US Women’s Open – one of the major events in women’s professional golf.
Saso, who is a regular at the Japan Tour where she has won two championships, expressed confidence in her campaign in this $5.5 million event that gathered the best 155 lady golfers in the world.
Reid and Ganne enjoyed a one-stroke advantage on world No. 5 Brooke Henderson of Canada and Americans Angel Yin and Megan Khang. Henderson had a chance to gain a share of the lead but three-putted on 18 for bogey.
Reid, a six-time title on the Ladies European Tour who captured her first championship in the LPGA Tour last October, was on target with five birdies despite a bogey on 18 as she started at the back nine.
Ganne, the 17-year-old New Jersey high school junior, took the lead with two straight birdies on 15 and 16, and had the opportunity to move to six-under but she bogeyed on 18.
World No. 1 Ko Jin-young of South Korea finished with one-under-par 70 with six other players, while compatriot and world No. 2 Park In-bee was with nine others at even par 71.
World No. 3 Kim Sei-young of Korea finished with a 74, while defending champion Kim A-lim of Korea was at eight-over 79 following four double bogeys and two triple bogeys to start her title retention bid.