Saso fights back to keep weekend hopes alive at Meijer Classic
MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso rebounded strong from a wobbly start, leaning on her long game to salvage a one-over 73 in the opening round of the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan on Thursday (Friday Manila time).
While the performance left her tied for 90th and one stroke below the projected cutline, the Saso’s resilient finish sparked hopes for a strong second-round charge to secure a rare weekend appearance.
The reigning two-time US Women’s Open champion, who has missed the cut in her last four tournaments, looked headed for another early exit after a double-bogey on her opening hole at the Blythefield Country Club. After a run of pars, another bogey on the par-3 11th further derailed her position in the 144-player field.
However, the ICTSI-backed ace refused to crumble. Summoning her trademark power and grit, Saso birdied the final two par-5s (Nos. 14 and 18) to finish with a 38-35 card, keeping herself in the hunt.
Scoring ran low on the par-72 layout, with 60 players carding a one-under or better. Most of the field is treating this $3.25-million championship as a final tune-up for next week’s Women’s PGA Championship — the season's third major — at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.
China’s Yan Liu set the pace with an impressive six-under 66, highlighted by a trio of consecutive birdies starting at No. 4 and another three-birdie burst over her final five holes. She holds a slim one-stroke lead over Australia's Cassie Porter and American Jessica Porvasnik, who both shot 67s. Eight other players stood closely behind at 68 in a crowded leaderboard.
Over on the Epson Tour, Bianca Pagdanganan leads the Philippine contingent at the Great Lakes Championship, which unwraps Friday (Saturday Manila time) at The Highlands in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
Pagdanganan returns to the LPGA’s farm league following a joint 49th finish at the US Women’s Open and a missed cut at the Dow Championship. Also backed by ICTSI, she begins her campaign at 8:36 a.m. on the 10th hole alongside Taiwan’s Cynthia Lu and American Reagan Zibilski.
Fellow ICTSI player Dottie Ardina is also eyeing a strong start in the 54-hole tournament. Grouped with Spain’s Carla Escuder and American Kim Kaufman, she hits the course at 8:47 a.m. from the 10th tee.
Meanwhile, Clariss Guce, the two-time Epson Tour winner, starts at 1:25 p.m. on No. 10 with Americans Becca Huffer and Megan Schofill; Sam Bruce, the former Ladies Philippine Golf Tour winner, launches her campaign at 2:09 p.m. with Canadian amateur Addison Kartusch and Korea’s Ashley Kim; while Tomi Arejola looks to capitalize on an early draw, drawing a 7:41 a.m. tee-time on No. 1 with American Sophia Burnett and England’s Hollie Muse.
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