ASIAN GAMES CHAMPION. Filipino-Japanese golfer Yuka Saso holds the Philippine flag after winning the gold medal in the women's individual event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia in August. (Contributed photo)
BUENOS AIRES — Yuka Saso scored a one-over 71 for joint second place at the start of women’s golf while fencer Lawrence Everett Tan and swimmer Nicole Oliva failed to get a medal in their events on Tuesday in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Saso, Asian Games individual champion, had to contend with the wind at the Hurlingham Club here after she bogeyed six holes to stay two shots behind leader Alesia Nobilio of Italy.
The 17-year-old miscalculated three holes on the front nine and another three coming home, but her five birdies, including back-to-back efforts after a par on the par-3 No. 12, was enough to keep the Filipino-Japanese within striking distance.
“Mahangin sa course, mabuti na lang at naka-adjust ako (The course was windy. It's a good thing I adjusted well),’’ said Saso, who shared second place with Maria Fernanda-Martinez of Mexico, Emille Oeveraas of Norway, Grace Kim of Australia and Hoyu-An of Chinese Taipei.
Carl Jano Corpus, on the other hand, fired a similar 71 performance for a share of fifth place in men’s individual play. The Filipino was two strokes behind the leaders after he birdied holes No. 3, 4, 6 and 14.
Akshai Bathia of the United States, Vanchai Luangnitikul of Thailand, Karl Vilips of Australia and Andrea Romano of Italy shared the lead at 69.
In fencing, Tan bombed out of the medal stages after falling to Pak Chan of Hong Kong, 11-15, in the round of 16 of the men’s foil event.
Chan raced to an early lead, 11-6, in their race-to-15 face-off but had to fend Tan’s rally late in the first three minutes of action.
Filipino-Norwegian Christian Tio is still in the hunt for a podium performance after finishing second, fifth and eighth in the three races on Day 2 of the men’s kiteboarding competitions where the medalists will be determined on October 12.
Swimmer Nicole Oliva again failed to qualify in the finals of her second event at the Olympic Park pool. After missing the medal race in the women’s 100m freestyle on Monday, the Filipino-American based in Sta. Clara, California was not able to make it in the 800m free after landing third in her heat with a 8:52.29 clocking. (POC-PSC MEDIA GROUP)
