Saso was an early starter, beginning on the again 9 — and she or he fired dwelling six birdies to document a round-leading six-under-par 66.
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Generally it’s simply the golf equipment that carry you, particularly on a tricky course just like the one at Shaughnessy Golf and Nation Membership.
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That’s what one would possibly conclude after listening to Yuka Saso assess her first spherical on the 2023 CPKC Girls’s Open at Shaughnessy on Thursday.
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Japan’s Saso was an early starter on the again 9, however a strong par over that first 9 set her up for a outstanding end, the place she fired dwelling six birdies to document a round-leading six-under-par 66.
“I don’t know what occurred on the again 9. I began hitting some good second photographs and having brief putts for birdies, giving myself lots of probabilities,” she stated.
The ladies’s open hasn’t been to Shaughnessy earlier than, however even after a primary look it proved standard with gamers, a lot of whom cited the old school tight fairways and springy greens for precision play.
Or, those that completed close to the highest of the leaderboard have been prepared to precise admiration for the course’s traditional design. One can think about any of the handfuls of gamers who completed properly over par — simply 18 of the 156-strong discipline shot beneath par in Thursday’s first spherical — weren’t so happy with the slim fairways and difficult greens.
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Saso appeared nearly amazed by the success she discovered, regardless of the challenges.
“Really don’t know. I simply hit it good and gave myself good probabilities and was capable of take it,” she stated.
Saso is famend for having studied Rory McIlroy’s swing, watching a lot YouTube through the years that her swing now mimics the Northern Irishman’s.
She wasn’t the one one to seek out success within the second half of her spherical as Swede Linn Grant, one of many final gamers on the course, fired a five-under 67 to complete the day in second place.
“I didn’t count on to hit minus 5 at this time. I didn’t really feel very assured in my swing,” she instructed the Golf Channel.
However clearly her confidence circled because the spherical progressed.
“I believe after 12 I sort of acquired confidence going and sort of felt extra assured hitting the photographs and counting on my golf and myself,” she instructed reporters after signing her scorecard, standing in a stunning spot overlooking the mouth of the Fraser River, because the wildfire smoke-obscured solar was dipping towards the horizon.
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“I used to be not anticipating a minus-5 at this time. Stage par in my head was a very good rating,” she added.
“It’s actually slim off the tee and for those who get within the tough it’s sort of onerous to get the ball to cease on the greens as a result of they’re so agency and so tiny they usually’re quick,” Grant added. “So I believe you bought all the things on this golf course. Should you’re not prepared for it, it’s going to hit you whenever you go on the market.
“I believe my strategy was simply being very affected person and never too grasping with sure pins — sort of depend on simply hitting it center of the inexperienced and depend on my placing as an alternative.”
It was a very good day for veteran Canadian Alena Sharp, who completed the day in a six-way tie for third.
“I hit the golf green and 13 and I used to be simply off to the races. It was like a swap flipped. After which I used to be simply in my zone. I haven’t been within the zone like that shortly. It’s sort of not questioning myself and (being) actually decisive on what I used to be making an attempt to do on the market,” she stated.
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The Hamilton native stated she has been enjoying on the Epson tour this yr and got here to Vancouver with nothing to lose.
“Who is aware of what may occur this week, proper? Like I may possibly clinch my card this week out right here. I don’t know. You simply by no means know. So I’m retaining my thoughts open and choices open nonetheless.
“I’ve my plans set to play the final 5 Epson however simply coming in right here, I simply needed to take all of the onerous work I’ve executed and simply show to myself that I may do it on a tough golf course,” she stated.
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