Saso rallies, wins PH Ladies Open by 2
YUKA SASO made it two-in-row in big- time golf, putting on a late charge to stun Mikha Fortuna and snare the 2018 Champion Infinity Philippine Ladies Open crown by two on a 70 at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Friday.
Saso closed out in a flourish, shake off Fortuna after 12 holes, gunning down three birdies in the Saso pulled her drive on the par-4 last six holes to overhaul a three13th in front of a tree. Caught bestroke deficit then capped her stirtween playing out or going for the ring rally with a chip-in birdie on green, Saso opted for the latter and the final hole for a 36-34 and a came through with what could 54-hole total of 209, finally claimeasily be the shot of the day. ing the crown after a runner-up She hit a lob shot from 70 and third place finish in the last yards, the ball clearing the huge two years of the country’s premier obstacle and landing three feet championship organized and off the cup. Birdie. conducted by the Women’s Golf Saso blasted another power drive Association of the Philippines. on the short par-4 14th and made
Fortuna, who stunned the elite a one-pitch, one-putt for another field with a solid 65 Thursday, birdie, pulling her to within one off cracked under pressure in a windy Fortuna, who settled for pars. final day, mishitting her drive on The Fil-Japanese three-putted No. 15 and missing a couple of for bogey on the next but still drew birdie putts. She hobbled with a level with Fortuna, who holed out 74 and wound up with a 211. with a double-bogey on an errant
Unlike in her wire-to-wire tridrive and a three-putt miscue then umph in a pro tournament at Ayala the former surged ahead as the latGreenfield last week, the 16-yearter muffed a five-foot par putt on old Saso nailed her second victory the next hole. in come-from-behind fashion. Saso dashed whatever Fortuna’s
“I never expected to win. Mikha hopes for a playoff with that closwas playing well but I got my own ing chip-in feat. game going to No. 13 and that’s It was a sorry loss for Fortuna, when I got the needed confiwho came into the final round dence,” said Saso, who also domibrimming with confidence after nated the ranks by winning the a bogey-free seven-under card in Phl Amateur Stroke and Match the second round that put her Play crowns and the national junthree strokes off the most feared ior title last year. player in the fold.
Three down and unable “I’ve learned a lot here. But these to things happen in golf. I’ll just try again next year,” said Fortuna.
Thai Pinkaew Trachuentong carded a 74 and placed third at 214, while dethroned champion Bianca Pagdanganan shot a 71 for fourth at 215 followed by Harmie Constantino ( 71- 216), Isabelle Leung of Hong Kong (69-217), Thai Phannarai Meesom-us (73218), Nicole Abelar ( 74- 221), Kultida Pramphum (75-221) and Pimkwan Chookaew, also of Thailand, (73-222).
Kristine Torralba and Jonah Ilagan shared the spotlight as they took the crowns in Classes B and C, respectively, in the event backed by backed by Champion Infinity, Eva Air, San Miguel Corp., Metro Pacific, Atty. Gilberto Duavit, Inquirer, Alveo Land, G& W Clubshares, Inc., Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Golfers Club Shares Inc., Cherrylume and NGAP.
Torralba shot a 78 for a 230 and edged Laurea Duque ( 80232) by two with Sofia Legaspi finishing third at 234 after a 77 while Ilagan made an 87 for a 257 and won by 16 shots over He Ling- Li, and Cheska Imperial, who pooled identical 273s on a 99 and 92, respectively.
Other backers of the event were the Province of Cavite, Luisita Golf and Country Club, Mileage Asia, Vermogen, Golf Depot, Orchard Golf and Country Club, Alabang Ladies Chapter, Forest Hills GCC, Tagaytay Highlands, Sta. Elena Golf Club, Manila Golf Club and Canlubang GCC with TIB Taishan and The Turf Company-Texas Eagle as hole-in-one sponsors.