Saso rises in women’s world rankings

MANILA, Philippines — On the strength of her first Top 10 finish in the LPGA, Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso vaulted six places to No. 40 in the latest women’s world golf rankings released last Monday.

Saso pulled off her best performance in the LPGA over the weekend when she tied for sixth place in the Lotte Championship in Oahu, Hawaii, where she held the lead in the first two rounds and set a 36-hole tournament record of 128.

The 19-year-old parbuster logged 2.7285 average ranking points after the Hawaii competition to spark her rise from 46 the previous week and surpass her previous best ranking of 43rd in the April 5 listing.

Compatriot Bianca Pagdanganan, who missed the Lotte cut, jumped two spots to 147th.

With her standing in the WWGR, Saso is well on track to make it to the Tokyo Olympics. The reigning Asian Games double gold medalist currently stands 22nd in the Olympic Golf Rankings.

Pagdanganan occupies 42nd spot and is also on course for a berth in the 60-player field in Tokyo in July.