Saso sputters, settles for joint lead at 70

YUKA SASO sizzled in the early going but cooled down at the back with shaky putting, settling for a oneunder 70 and a share of the lead with Thai Khawnuna Yosita and Mafy Singson at the start of the Champion Philippine Ladies Amateur Open at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Forbes Park on Tuesday.

They stood four strokes up on Chanettee Wannasaen, also of Thailand, who shot a 74, while Sofia Chabon and Rianne Malixi turned in identical 75s in windy conditions at the par-71 layout returning as host of the country’s premier championship after a long absence.

Junia Gabasa, coming off a victory in the W Express RVF Cup in Canlubang last week, struggled with a 76 for joint seventh with Eagle Ace Superal and Taiwanese Sung You- Chuan while Nicole Abelar lay a stroke farther back with 77 in the 54-hole championship organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Just when she thought she had the posh layout all figured out after going three-under with a birdie on No. 1 and an eagle on No. 4, Saso hit an errant approach shot on No. 8 for bogey then groped for her touch on the unpredictable greens at the back, flubbing five birdie chances inside eight feet.

The reigning Asian Games gold medalist three-putted No. 14 after misreading a downhill try, the ball storming past the cup by six feet which she failed to return.

“As I’ve said, the greens are tough. I could’ve turned in a better round and could’ve taken the solo lead,” said Saso, who muffed birdie tries on Nos. 13 ( 8ft), 15 ( 6ft), 16 ( 10ft), 17 ( 12ft) and 18 ( 5ft). “My timing was off at the back and that made it worse. But overall, I am still happy with game.” Yuka Saso

Saso’s blistering start also failed to rattle her young Thai flightmate, who hit three birdies to negate a double bogey mishap on No. 12, while Singson, 15, also gunned down three birdies against two bogeys in a separate flight to gain a piece of the lead in the early going of the event presented by Champion and sponsored by Hana Shampoo, EVA Air, San Miguel Corp. and Diamond Motor Corp.

“The greens are tricky. They’re difficult because they’re slick and undulating. The wind was also a big factor,” said Khawnuna, a 16-year-old rising star from Nakhon Thammarat.

Unlike Saso, Singson had to rebound from a faltering start of two bogeys in the first four holes but charged back with birdies on Nos. 8 and 14 before rolling in a five- footer on the last hole.

“The greens are tough but the wind was relatively fair,” said Singson, bracing for a tough outing against Saso and Khawnuna in today’s featured flight among the 93 starters where the 30 percent of the lowest scores and ties after the first round qualified in the centerpiece Open division. The rest will be classified into Classes A and B.

Meanwhile, Manila Golf Club president Martin Romualdez, Peerless Products Manufacturing Corp. president Simeon Tiu and MGC ladies chapter head Lorna Tabuena hit the ceremonial drives to formally kick off the 54-hole championship presented by Champion late Monday.