CALAMBA, Laguna – Yuka Saso opened the new Ladies Philippine Golf Tour season with a bang, banging in clutch birdies to foil Thai Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng’s early charge and late rally as the top amateur claimed a two-stroke victory on a closing two-under 70 in the ICTSI Ayala Greenfield Ladies Challenge here yesterday.

Saso watched her huge five-shot lead reduce to a couple of strokes after five holes as Wilairungrueng sizzled with three birdies in ideal condition but pulled away again on a two-shot swing (birdie-bogey) on No. 7. She then matched her rival’s birdie on the par-3 16th that all but completed her impressive romp in the kickoff leg of this season Ladies Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by ICTSI.

That she did it in wire-to-wire fashion spoke well of the caliber of the player who was knocked off the national team and barred from defending her national crown this year, shifting her focus instead on the P750,000 championship which drew the cream of the country’s pro crop and a slew of Thai seasoned campaigners.

And the 16-year-old sensation proved she can handle both – overcoming the rebuff and the elite pro field with aplomb to nail her second pro crown after scoring a three-shot victory over Korean Ji Won Kang, also in wire-to-wire fashion, at Eagle Ridge in 2016.

“I didn’t expect to win because of the quality of competition. But I’m happy I did it,” said Saso, who leaned on her hot irons and superb putting to frustrate her pursuers and close out with a 35-35 card for a 54-hole total of seven-under 209.

She credited her imposing triumph to a superb second round 67 that gave her a big cushion and the confidence heading to the final round of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“My 67 in the second round spelled the difference. It gave me confidence and I never had to worry about anything. I played pressure-free,” said Saso,who also became the latest amateur to win on the LPGT after Abby Arevalo nipped Pauline del Rosario by one on a last hole birdie at Riviera last July.

The victory likewise ended the Thais’ domination of the country’s premier circuit after Renuka Suksukont and Yupaporn Kawinpakorn reigned at the Phl Ladies Masters and South Forbes Invitational last month.

Five strokes behind Saso with del Rosario at the start of the final round, Wilairungrueng birdied the first two holes against Saso’s birdie on No. 2 and threatened to within two with a birdie on No. 5 which Saso bogeyed. But the Fil-Japanese shotmaker quickly recovered the two strokes on a similar two-shot swing on the seventh then held sway at the back with pars and that decisive birdie.

The 21-year-old ace from Chiang Rai, winner of a leg in the Taiwan LPGA last year, made one last charge with a third straight birdie on No. 13 but failed to rattle off her young rival, who drilled in a six-foot birdie putt on No. 16 that all but shattered Wirairungreung’s hopes for a comeback. She also birdied the 16th then holed out with another birdie for a 67 and a 211.

“The fairways were very narrow and the greens were hard to read,” rued Wilairungrueng, who, however, took the top purse of P150,000 with Saso claiming two trophies, including the low amateur, in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Del Rosario provided the early challenge with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 but the newly crowned LPGT Order of Merit winner failed to sustain her attack, settling for a bogey and a birdie and a run of pars before dropping out of contention with a double-bogey on the 17th. She ended up with a 72 for third at 216 worth P95,000.

“I tried but Yuka was too good,” said del Rosario, who racked up four victories in her rookie season to emerge the tour’s biggest star last year.

Chonlada Chayanun, also of Thailand, fired a 70 and placed fourth at 218 while compatriots Punpaka Phuntumabamrung and Saraporn Chamchoi took the next two spots with 73-219 and 72-221, respectively.

Chihiro Ikeda, winner at Forest Hills last year, matched par 72 to finish seventh at 223 while first round joint leader Thanuttra Boonraksasat carded a 74 for eighth at 224 followed by Pakpring Duangchan (71), Cyna Rodriguez (71) and Aunchisa Utama (74), who tied for ninth at 225.

Wannarisi Sirisampant turned in a 73 for 11th at 227, Dottie Ardina skied to a 76-228, Princess Superal hobbled with a 75-229, and Marvi Monsalve and Saruttaya Ngam-usawan pooled similar 232s after a 76 and 78, respectively, to complete the 15 players who made the cut in the 54-hole championship backed by backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.