MANILA – Golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan have officially secured their spots in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, the Philippine Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday.
Saso ang Pagdanganan punched their Olympics tickets after maintaining their place in the top 60 of the latest women’s golf rankings.
Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion, ranked ninth in the Olympic Golf Ranking.
The Filipina-Japanese golfer was a two-time Philippine Sportswriter’s Association Athlete of the Year awardee. She also made her mark in the Japan LPGA, NEC Karuizawa Championship, and the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament. She also bagged two gold medals in the 2018 Asian Games women’s individual team event along with Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go.
On the other hand, Pagdanganan occupied the 42nd spot in the Olympic ranking, following her ninth-place finish in the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA tournament.
Pagdanganan’s top 10 finish in her professional debut propelled her to a tour record world ranking leap of 478 rungs in only six tour events in October 2020.
Saso and Pagdanganan were the 16th and 17th Filipino athletes to qualify for the Summer Games./PN
