Phl Ladies Open: Saso insists she’s no fave

MANILA, Philippines - In-form Yuka Saso sets out as the marked player among the elite field all primed up for the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship 2017, which gets going tomorrow at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s West Course in Mandaluyong.

But despite her run of impressive feats, the 15-year-old Fil-Japanese has opted to downplay her chances in the country’s premier amateur championship presented by Champion Infinity, saying the field is strong and anything can happen at Wack Wack.

“There are too many good players around, especially the Thais. So I’ll just pray and hope for the best,” said Saso, who will be coming into the event exuding confidence following her wire-to-wire triumph in the Phillippine Amateur Golf Championship last Sunday where she beat Korean Hee Ji Kim by nine.

The national team spearhead and Queen Sirikit Cup veteran also won the third World Junior Girls championship and led the Philippines to the team crown in Canada last September, reached the semifinals of the 2016 US Women’s Amateur and won a pro tournament on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, also last year.

Still, Saso said the PLO field is teeming with talent, picking the Thais and the Taiwanese as the likely title contenders along with the Malaysians, the Koreans and the Singaporeans.
She also named Harmie Constantino and a host of local players, who are all raring to get a crack at the crown in the blue-ribbon event backed by Lexus, Metro Pacific Investments, CranUTI, Texas Eagle, San Miguel Corp., Botanika, Enclave, Taishan Insurance Broker’s Inc. , Inquirer, Cherrylume, Alveo, Manila Golf, G&W Clubshares, Alabang Ladies Golf Chapter, Canlubang Golf Club, Forest Hills Golf Club, Sta. Elena Golf Club, Tagaytay Higlands, Gatorade, Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, Vermogen, Atty. Gilberto Duavit and Water World Trading Inc.