CALGARY – Mao Saigo battled to make the cut Friday at the CPKC Women’s Open and then did something that’s never happened in the history of the tournament Saturday morning.
Saigo, a rookie on the LPGA Tour, shot an incredible 11-under 61 at Earl Grey Golf Club – setting the course and single-round tournament scoring record in the process.
“I’m very proud of myself because that was the best round since I started playing golf,” Saigo said through a translator.
Saigo needed just 23 putts Saturday and holed shots from off the green twice. Once for birdie on the par-3 9th, and then for an eagle from 133 yards on the par-4 10th. She had five birdies to go along with the eagle on the second nine and had four birdies on the front nine.
“When I made that par putt on the last hole, that’s when I realized I just played the best golf of my life,” she said.
Saigo is a multi-time winner on JLPGA – the Japanese Ladies Professional Golfers Association – so she doesn’t necessarily feel like she’s a true rookie. She has three top-10 finishes this season.
The final groups of the day had just teed off when Saigo had finished up, but she’ll likely be firmly in the mix for Sunday’s finale.
“Just because I am rookie I wasn’t going to be intimidated. I just wanted to play my own game, and to be able to shoot this score, I’m very happy about it,” Saigo said.
Saigo was asked if she knew much English and after burying her head in her hands, she let it flow.