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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Golf devider Saso trails early leader by 1 in LPGA NW Arkansas Championship

Saso trails early leader by 1 in LPGA NW Arkansas Championship

Published Sep 30, 2023 06:49 am

At A Glance

  • Yuka Saso fired a blistering bogey-free 6-under-par 65 to trail early leader Hae Ran Ryu by one shot at the start of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 29.

Yuka Saso fired a blistering bogey-free 6-under-par 65 to trail early leader Hae Ran Ryu by one shot at the start of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 29.

yuka saso
Yuka Saso chips on the seventh green during the first round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G at Pinnacle Country Club on Friday, Sept. 29, in Rogers, Arkansas. (AFP)

The Fil-Japanese waxed hot on the front nine with four birdies while adding two more birdies at the back nine for nines of 32-33 to jumpstart her title bid in this 54-hole tournament.

She, however, joined the crowded second place that included Lexi Thompson, Kelly Tan, Christina Kim, Lydia Ko, Hannah Green, Olivia Cowan, Jenny Shin and Nicole Broch Estrup.

A tournament victory has been elusive for Saso since winning the US Women’s Open crown in 2021 while still playing for the Philippine flag.

The Bulacan-born Saso, who is now a Japanese citizen, came close last June at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after losing the title to Yin Ruoning by one stroke.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Ryu, ranked 37th in the world and winner of five Korean LPGA tour crowns, blasted seven birdies for 64 to break free atop a log-jammed leaderboard and make her title campaign.

After half a dozen morning starters made it into the clubhouse on six-under on the rain-softened course, Ryu leapfrogged over them with a round that included five birdies on the back nine – four of them in a row from the 14th through the 17th.

Filipino bets Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan also showed their wares in the $2.3 million tournament.

Ardina shot a 68 for a share of 26th place while Pagdanganan carded a 69 for joint 54th.

The 29-year-old Ardina had four birdies marred by a single bogey at the par-5 18th hole, while Pagdanganan managed three birdies against a single bogey.

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