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Saso seeks redemption against world-class rivals
Dante Navarro (The Philippine Star) – November 6, 2020 – 12:00 am
Toto Japan Classic
MANILA, Philippines – With less attention, less pressure, Yuka Saso hopes to capitalize on her new role as one of the contenders as she shifts the spotlight to world-ranked Nasa Hataoka and Hinako Shibuno and a host of emerging venues. aces at the start of the Toto Japan Classic, which begins today in Ibaraki prefecture.
The Japanese-filmed has been in the limelight of the LPGA of Japan Tour since back-to-back victories at NEC Karuizawa and Nitori Ladies last August saw her take control of both the Player of the Year derby and the race for it money, while making her the target in each of the subsequent tournaments on the region’s main women’s circuit.
And that burden and pressure to stay on top of her game must have taken its toll on the 19-year-old rookie, whose performance somehow suffered a decline that saw her fail to compete for the championship in the next six events. Worse still, he was unable to advance for the first time at last week’s Hisako Higuchi Mitsubishi tournament after nine consecutive cuts.
But he hopes to use those setbacks as motivation to do better in the Y160 million event at the challenging Taiheiyo Club Minori course in an attempt not only to clinch his third win and first major JLPGA, but also to regain leadership in the Mercedes ranking (POTY ) of Sakura. Koiwai.
While on his way to top honors in the money race, Saso, with 68.115 million yuan in earnings, remains close behind in the POTY race with 808.85 points, just 62.01 behind Koiwai (870.86) with Ayaka Furue in a third place with 626.23.
The road to redemption, however, looks bumpy for the ICTSI-backed ace, who will have a hard time putting out his best against players like World No. 6 Hataoka and No. 15 Shibuno alongside Koiwai, defending champion Ai Suzuki. and the stage winners Ayaka Watanabe, Saki Nagamine, Erika Hara, Mone Inami, Shin Jie, Yuna Nishimura and Furue, who are reaching the 54-hole championship all prepared.
On the one hand, Hataoka, who ruled this event in 2018 before embarking on her journey on the LPGA Tour, will play in her hometown of Ibaraki and in top form after a joint third place in the LPGA Tour major, the Women’s PGA Championship, in Pennsylvania last month.
“It’s a shame there is no gallery, but I think it will be a more exciting match than usual,” said Hataoka, who also had another four LPGA Top 7s to move to World No. 6. her 9:20 a.m. tour at No. 1 with Shibuno, the 2019 British Women’s Open champion and JLPGA top winner Erika Hara.
The featured trio will start behind Saso’s group that includes Minami Katsu and Misuzu Narita with Watanabe, Yui Kawamoto and the return of Lee Bo-Mee from South Korea to start at 9:30 am and Inami, Furue and Korean Na -Ri Lee will follow suit. at 9:40 am
Suzuki, who beat Korea’s Kim Hoju by three to capture the crown last year in Shiga Prefecture, faces Koiwai and Teresa Lu with multiple titles at 9:40 a.m. as Jie, Nagamine and Shino Oyama face off against the 10 am on a stretch. of five exciting trios slanted to generate so much interest and excitement on the first 18 holes of the blue ribbon event.
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