IGF confirms Pinay golfers' Olympic berths

World number eight Yuka Saso officially qualifies for the Tokyo Olympics along with Bianca Pagdanganan. LPGA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--It is official: Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan are heading to the Tokyo Olympics.

Both Filipina golfers remained inside the 60-woman cutoff for the quadrennial meet following the final release of the Olympic rankings by the International Golf Federation on Tuesday night.

Saso booked her spot in the Olympics through the Top 15 quota, and she even rose a spot in the world rankings.

Following a strong finish in the LPGA Championship, Saso moved back to number eight in the world.

On the other hand, Pagdanganan entered through the second qualification quota, in which countries with less than two representatives in the Top 15 can clinch the remaining 45 spots with a limit of two participants per country.

Pagdanganan, currently 165th in the world, finished at number 44 in the Olympic rankings following the imposing of the quotas.

Saso and Pagdanganan are the 16th and 17th members of the Philippine team to the Tokyo Olympics from July 23-Aug. 8.

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