Saso shares lead despite 73
Yuka Saso struggled in windy conditions in the afternoon and fumbled with a one-over par 73 but still clung to a share of the girls 15-17 years division lead with a charging American Yui Kawamato in the second round Wednesday of the IMG Academy Junior World Championships at the La Costa Resort and Spa Legends course in Carlsbad, California.
Saso, vying in this annual event among the world’s top and rising junior players just for the second time, could only produce a single birdie on the par-5 12th against two bogeys after sizzling with an eight- birdie binge in a 68 start. But she remained on top at 141 through 36 holes with Kawamato, the San Diego native who took advantage of the calmer winds in the morning to shoot a 68.
The 15-year-old Saso, however, appeared to be the only one among the 35 players in the Philippine contingent sponsored by Philippine Airlines left with a chance for a victory as those playing in the 54-hole lower divisions fell too far behind to contend.
Bernice Ilas of Team The Country Club made the biggest move among the Phl bets with a two-under 70 to barge into the top 10 from 26th in the girls 13-14 years competition at The Country Club in Rancho Bernardo. But with a 144 total after an opening 74, the former 7-8 years division winner still stood 11 shots behind Riona Higa of Japan, who shot 68-133, going to the final round.
Coco Ong was the best-placed Filipino bet at solo sixth in the girls 6 years and under following a 64-129 but she was 27 shots behind another Japanese leader, Mao Nagamine. Annyka Cayabyab also rallied with a two-under 70 that included a hole-in-one on the third hole but can only improve her placing in the girls 11-12 at Sycuan Resort-Oak Glen to 18th, 14 shots off the pace.
The boys bets couldn’t do any better with Miko Granada (70-137) sharing 14th place in boys 7-8 years at Oaks North for the worthiest showing on the second day.
But focus will be on Saso in the final two rounds as she tries to prove her mettle against a talented international field with about 20 players within five shots or less off the joint leaders.
“I had a hard time getting it close to the pins today because of the wind, I just tried to minimize my errors,” said Saso, who placed 14th the first time she played in the 13-14 years division two years ago. “It’s hard to force it because one mistake can lead to a big score.”
The daughter of a Japanese businessman now based in Manila, who won a pro tournament back home last month, hit 12 greens in regulation at the water-laced course but never got closer than four feet in all her birdie chances. Three long putts lipped out denying her of the needed cushion in the last two rounds.
Cayabyab, granddaughter of Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, celebrated her first ace in international play and fourth overall when she holed an 8-iron tee-shot on the 125-yard third hole. She actually went birdie-birdie-hole-in-one on the first three holes and was still four under through 13th but dropped two shots down the last six holes.