Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has sponsored a legislation awarding the Congressional Medal of Achievement to Filipino golfer Yuka Saso following her historic win at the 76th Women’s US Open Championship held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California earlier this month.
The 19-year-old Saso made history by becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a major in golf and the youngest winner in one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments.
“Ms. Saso’s perseverance as she climbed her way to become one of the youngest and formidable lady golfers, has brought great pride and honor to our country,” Velasco said, as he filed House Resolution No. 1879 congratulating and conferring the congressional award to the champion golfer.
Velasco authored the resolution along with Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, and Committee on Youth and Sports Development Chair Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III.
The resolution was filed on June 9, a week after the second regular session of the 18th Congress had adjourned. The House of Representatives is expected to take up the measure as soon as the third regular session begins next month.
Velasco said Saso’s historic win at the US Open highlighted the Philippines in the international golf sports arena and bolstered hopes for the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
“This sends the strongest message that the Philippines is ready to bring home the top award for women’s golf at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics,” Velasco said.
During the 17th Congress, several resolutions were also filed in the House commending Saso for her achievements and awards received, and expressing full support in all her future golf tournaments.
Saso has enjoyed a very successful junior and amateur career and the 2020 Athlete of the Year award conferred by the Philippine Sportswriters Association pulled together her past accolades, which include top awards at the 2019 Girls Junior PGA Championship held in Hartford, Connecticut.
She was a two-time Philippine Ladies Open champion (2018 and 2019) and earned two gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games held in Indonesia. Also in 2018, she claimed the Victorian Junior Masters Championship in Australia.
Saso was also a two-time champion at the Philippine Junior Amateur and the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play (2016 and 2017). She also got the top prize at the 2017 Philippine Amateur Open Championship.
In 2016, Saso received an award for her crucial role in winning the gold medal at the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship team event held in Canada. She also won the 2015 Kartini Cup and the 2014 Sabah International Junior Masters, Visayas Regional Amateur and ALM Tournament.