Yasuda feels the pressure as first-time leader in a tourney
HOKOTA (Japan): The Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific (WAAP) championship looks set for a thrilling finish with only four strokes separating the top six golfers.
The local crowd will have a good reason to make their way to the course today as one of their own Yuka Yasuda is on top of the leaderboard at the Royal Gold Club.
A storming finish consisting of three birdies and an eagle in her final four holes helped Yasuda stake aclaimonthetitle.
It was another difficult scoring day but with a few tees pushed forward and the rain staying away, players were able to find birdies more easily.
Yasuda, who recorded the best round of the second day in terrible conditions – a two-over 74 – was in fine form again to finish with a five-under 67.
She is currently four-under 212, two strokes ahead of defending champion Atthaya Thitikul (71) of Thailand and overnight leader Yae Eun-hong (73) of South Korea.
Another Japanese Yuna Nishimura (70) is tied at fourth with Lee Ye-won of South Korea (70) and Australian Becky Kay (73).
Yasuda certainly has what it takes to rise to the occasion when it counts.
She was tied second along with world No. 1 Jennifer Kupcho of the United States in the World Amateur Team Championship in Dublin, Ireland last year, fifth at the inaugural WAAP in Singapore last year and tied third at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in the US earlier this month.
“I was very satisfied with my round. Today was windy again and it was very tough on all the shots but I was able to concentrate.
“It will be the first time I will be leading a tournament going into the final round, so I am very excited. I will do my best and I will try to enjoy the whole experience,” said Yasuda, who is ranked 13th in the world amateur rankings.
The 18-year-old from Kobe made a bogey on the 14th hole. She then birdied the 15th, eagled the next hole before closing with birdies on the 17th and 18th.
“I was disappointed with the bogey and told myself that I needed to par every remaining hole because they are difficult. But I hit good tee shots on the 15th and 16th and that set me up for the birdie and eagle,” she added.
Atthaya is just hoping for her form to stay today.
“My round today was good. I was patient on the course and then waited for the par-fives on the back nine tomakebirdies.
“Tomorrow is the future and I cannot predict what to expect. All I can do is just play my game and go out there and enjoy myself,” said Atthaya, who is ranked ninth in the world.
Overnight leader Eun-hong started with a three-putt bogey, which she attributed to nervousness.
“Today was a tough day. On the first hole, I was so nervous that I missed the putt and I three-putted.
“My iron play was not that good and I kept pulling my shots. It’s still okay because I made a lot of pars today,” said the South Korean.