MANILA, Philippines – Unable to hit her scoring target, Yuka Saso still succeeded in seizing the solo lead with a second 70 as Thai Yosita Khawnuna and Mafy Singson wavered, enabling the Asian Games gold medalist to move closer to scoring a title repeat in the Champion Philippine Ladies Amateur Open crown at the Manila Golf and Country Club. But her second 70 proved enough to net her the solo lead at 140 as Khawnuna succumbed to pressure and ended up with a 73 to drop to solo second at 143. “There will be pressure tomorrow (Thursday) but I would be fine if I can hole in birdies,” said the 17-year-old Saso. Unlike Saso, Khawnuna and Singson wavered when the going got tough with the Thai finishing with two birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey and the Filipina bet struggling for form all throughout. “My putting and irons weren’t good,” said Khawnuna, still hopeful of putting it all together in another duel with Saso in the final round of the event organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Source: Philippine Star February 20, 2019 10:05 UTC