Golf: Fil-Am Allisen Corpuz wins US Women's Open for first LPGA triumph

SAN FRANCISCO -- Filipino-American Allisen Corpuz captured her first LPGA victory in dramatic fashion on Sunday, firing a three-under par 69 to win the US Women's Open by three strokes.

The 25-year-old from Honolulu finished 72 holes at Pebble Beach on nine-under 279 to defeat England's Charley Hull, who fired a final-round 66, and South Korean Shin Ji-yai, who shot 68.

"Unreal. This week has just felt like a dream come true," Corpuz said. "It has been just awesome to be out at Pebble this week."

Japan's Nasa Hataoka, the 54-hole leader, finished with a 76 to share fourth on 285 with American Bailey Tardy while Japan's Ayaka Furue and South Korean Kim Hyo-joo shared sixth on 286.

Corpuz had shared a major lead at the Chevron Championship earlier this year before settling for fourth, a hint of the promise she made real at the iconic California seaside course where such legends as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have hoisted trophies.

"I've played a little conservatively in the past and just went out there and told myself I had the game to do it today," Corpuz said. "Little nervous at times but pretty comfortable."

A turning point came at the par-3 12th when leader Corpuz blasted out of a bunker and made a 16-foot par putt while Hataoka missed a five-foot par putt moments later to fall two adrift of the American.

Hull sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-5 16th to pull within two on 6-under with Hataoka making bogey at 14 to fall back.

Corpuz responded moments later by sinking a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-5 14th and when she added another from four feet at 15, she reached 10-under and surged ahead of Hull by four shots.

Corpuz had a bogey at the par-3 17th but still finished as the only player to crack par in all four rounds.

"Every few holes I just looked out and said I'm at Pebble Beach, there's not many places that are better than this," Corpuz said. "So really just tried to stay grounded and keep playing my game."

Corpuz made a five-foot birdie putt on the opening hole, saved par with a 10-foot putt at the par-5 second, followed with a 12-foot birdie at the third, then missed a six-foot par putt to bogey the fourth after missing the green with her approach.

She sank a birdie putt from just outside 10 feet at the par-3 seventh, missed the green on her approach and took a bogey at the ninth, then answered at 10 with a birdie putt from just inside nine feet.

Hull had six birdies, two bogeys and an eagle in her 66, the day's low round.

"I just got off to a fast start," Hull said. "I've been so focused and working on my game hard and today it just all clicked."

World number 20 Hataoka fell short in her bid to become the third Japanese woman to win a major title. She had runner-up major finishes as the 2018 Women's PGA Championship and the 2021 US Women's Open at The Olympic Club in nearby San Francisco.

Agence France-Presse

Father's tough love sets Yuka Saso up for US Women's Open success

TOKYO -- Nineteen-year-old Filipino-Japanese golfer Yuka Saso, who is back in the spotlight with her dramatic first career major victory at the US Women's Open, was driven to success by her father's tough love.

Saso became an overnight sensation at the Asian Games in 2018, when the then 17-year-old represented the Philippines and got two gold medals. Her playoff victory Sunday proved the double gold was no fluke and is a testament to her connection with her Japanese father Masakazu, who helped set and enforce the grueling schedule that drove her to the top.When she decided at the age of 8 she wanted to become a top-ranked player like now-retired Japanese golf star Ai Miyazato, her father relocated the family to the Philippines where the cost of living was a lot cheaper. Saso's mother is a Filipina.

"We are not rich. It was impossible for us to keep playing golf in Japan," the 63-year-old Masakazu said in an interview the father-daughter pair gave Kyodo News earlier this year.

They said the turning point in Saso's golf career came when she was 13 and competing in a tournament in the United States, and she saw a significant difference -- about 50 yards -- between the distances she was achieving with the golf ball and a 17-year-old player.

"It was frustrating. I told myself I would learn to swing as hard as her by the following year," Saso said, reflecting on a time that had made her cry out of anger.

Despite her plea, Masakazu was conflicted over whether he should force his daughter to keep up with a demanding training structure, so much so that he made her sign a pledge promising not to hold a grudge against him.

"I will commit myself to rigorous training but I will not hate my parents for it. I will not dislike them. I will never forget to show a daughter's smile," the pledge read.

From then on, Saso's mornings began with a 5:30 a.m. run, followed by 10 sets of 50- and 100-meter sprints wearing 2-kilogram weights and 30 minutes of repetitive side step jumping before taking actual golf swings.

Then, she would do 30-kg barbell squats, and sometimes even include dry swing training with a baseball bat while using ankle weights or shadow boxing to add variety to her workouts.

But Saso stayed calm, disciplined and in control regardless of the pressure and stress she was under.

She has learned that if she wants to move forward, it takes hard work and dedication on her part. She says she also wants to enjoy the process on her journey to the top.

"I want to remember to have fun while I play. I want to rank No. 1 in the world," she said.

On Monday, she jumped from 40th to ninth in the Rolex Rankings after beating Japanese golfer Nasa Hataoka in a playoff to give the Philippines its first major champion in golf and Japan its third major winner in women's golf.

After her historic conquest of the US Women's Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco on Sunday, Saso credited her success to her father's love and parental support.

"(I was able to win because) my family supported me and was always there for me," Saso said.

Her father was moved to tears and could only manage a few words.

"(She did it) so soon...Good for her," he said.

-Kyodo News

Japan rejoices at teenage golfer Yuka Saso's US Women's Open win

Teenage golfer Yuka Saso's triumph at the US Women's Open was met with jubilation from her Japanese supporters Monday, with her father crying tears of joy as he watched her hoist the trophy.

"I didn't think she would win it this quickly. I'm so happy," Masakazu Saso said as he looked on at San Francisco's Olympic Club after her victory.

Born to a Filipino mother and Japanese father, Saso became only the third woman with Japanese citizenship to win a major title and tied the record for the youngest champion at the tournament at 19 years, 11 months, 17 days.

Saso holds dual Filipino and Japanese citizenship and represents the former on tour and in international competitions.

Masakazu said his confidence faltered when his daughter carded two double bogeys early in her final round, but his worry was proven unfounded when his daughter managed two par-5 birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to move into a playoff with Japanese player Nasa Hataoka.

"After the double bogeys on the second and third holes, I thought she was done for. She was lucky."

Asked how he plans to celebrate the victory with his daughter, Masakazu replied, "She's not the type to ask for things. That cup is what she wanted most."

were ecstatic at her victory.

"It's been less than a year since we met. I'm very surprised and overjoyed she has accomplished such a great feat," said Jiro Teramura, an executive at the small company.

At the Fuso Country Club in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, about an hour and a half by car from central Tokyo, where Saso enrolled as a junior member in 2016, deputy manager Tatsuya Karibe said her physical strength is a boon when competing abroad.

"Her physique is her strong point. She's a long hitter, which allows her to be competitive in the US Women's Open."

The government's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, also offered his congratulations, saying the playoff holes were "a fierce battle" but that Saso's perseverance led to her win.

Also praising Hataoka, Kato said he looks forward to the 22-year-old's future performances.

Hiroaki Owa, who heads Ibaraki's athlete development program for golf and has worked closely with Hataoka, said she can hold her head high in defeat.

"It's very rare to have a playoff (on the US tour) between two Japanese. Hataoka may be dejected but this is good experience for the next time."

-Kyodo News-

Golf: Yuka Saso caps US Women’s Open debut at 13th place

Yuka Saso of the Philippines carded a 1-over 72 on Monday to end up 13th place at the conclusion of the US Women’s Open in Houston that was delayed by rain. 

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kim A-Lim produced a stunning finish to snatch her maiden major victory with a 1-shot win at Champions Golf Club. 

Saso, who was tied at 25th place when play was suspended Sunday, bounced back with consistent shotmaking and could’ve finished higher if it weren’t for a double-bogey on the 17th. 

The Japan LPGA Tour campaigner showed over the weekend she could excel Stateside, as the reigning Asian Games champion closed out her first attempt at a golf major better than expected after a poor Round 3 where she was 6 over. 

Bianca Pagdanganan, the other Filipina participant, missed the cut.

Kim, 25, who had never won a tournament outside of South Korea before, rattled in three consecutive birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes to finish with a four-under-par 67 at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

That finish left Kim on three under for the tournament, one shot clear of compatriot and world number one Ko Jin-Young and Amy Olson of the United States, who had led for much of the final round. Japan's Hinako Shibuno was fourth on one under after draining a monstrous 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

"I decided to come out today, be aggressive, attack the pin," Kim said afterwards. "It worked out today."

Kim, playing in the US Women's Open for the first time, had started the day as a long-shot for the title, five shots adrift of third round leader Shibuno.

However she climbed up the leaderboard with a superb performance over the front nine, making birdies on the 5th, 6th and 8th holes to reach the turn at two under for the tournament.

Her progress looked to have stalled when she posted back-to-back bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes to drop to even par.

Olson, meanwhile, who had started the day just one shot adrift of Shibuno, took sole possession of the lead after recovering from a nightmare start.

- Family tragedy -

The 28-year-old from North Dakota -- chasing her first ever win on the LPGA Tour -- had been rocked by a family tragedy after it emerged on Sunday her father-in-law had died suddenly on Saturday.

Olson, one of 18 players who never teed off their final round on Sunday after heavy rain deluged the course, started sluggishly, with a trio of bogeys on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes threatening to torpedo her hopes.

However she bounced back with consecutive birdies on the 5th and 6th holes to move back to two under for the tournament.

By the time she reached the 11th hole, Olson was sitting on a two-shot lead and looking increasingly comfortable.

However Kim's late charge changed the complexion of the round, with her birdie on the 16th leaving her one behind Olson.

Another birdie on the 17th gave her a share of the lead with the American, and on the 18th a superb wedge from 119 yards left her with an eight foot birdie to take the lead which she duly rolled in.

That piled the pressure on Olson, who was suddenly left needing to pick up shots to get back in contention.

Instead, her composure deserted her. She bogeyed the par-three 16th after hitting through the green with her tee shot, leaving her two off the pace with two to play.

Olson however could only manage a par on the 17th, leaving her needing an eagle on the 18th to force a tie.

That proved to be beyond her though, although a long birdie putt gave the American a share of second place alongside Ko.

The tournament — the final major of the season — had been shifted from its slot in early June because of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Agence France-Presse