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Friday, March 29, 2024

Saso, Pagdanganan test world’s best in 75th US Open golf meet

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It will be a test of skills and talent for Philippine pride and Asian Games gold medalists Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan when they go up against the world’s best in the 75th US Open on Thursday (Friday in Manila) at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Saso, Pagdanganan test world’s best in 75th US Open golf meet
Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso

Saso made it to the tournament after being ranked as the 50th best player in the world.

On the other hand, Pagdanganan reached the main event of the 156-woman field by finishing in the top 10 of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The tournament will see defending champion Jeongeun Lee seeking to keep her crown for another year.

Lee is on her maiden Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour after winning the title at the Country Club of Charleston last year as an amateur.

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Action fires off the 10th tee of the Cypress Creek Course, and then it’s off for the first tee at the Jackrabbit Course the following day.

The 19-year-old Saso emerged as the money-leader in the recently concluded LPGA of Japan Tour.

Saso tees off at 2:32 a.m. (Manila time), while Pagdanganan begins her campaign at 2:10 a.m.

A top purse of $1 million is at stake for the winner.

Among the  24 amateurs in the field is Australian Gabriela Ruffels, a University of Southern California senior, who has  competed in four LPGA Tour events this season.

Last week, Saso ended her first year in the Japanese LPGA by finishing second overall in points and with the biggest money winnings.

Saso bucked the late surge of the Ricoh Cup winner Erika Hara to keep her second-place finish.

She emerged at the year-end Mercedes Rankings at 1,146.85 points with Hara tallying 1,049.32.

The Fil-Japanese Saso finished the Japan LPGA ranked at no. 223, with earnings totalling Y93,891,170  or P43,350,001.

On the other hand, Pagdanganan turned heads at the LPGA with her prodigious power since making her pro debut in July.

Pagdanganan finished tied ninth in her first major, the PGA Championship, and was then tied for third at the Drive On Championships behind winner Ally McDonald and world number five Danielle Kang to rocket to 43rd in the 2020 money list after playing only six events.

But it’s her length off the tee which has captivated the LPGA as she has been regularly blasting her driver past the 300-yard mark, a distance few women can match.

 

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