2022, February 22. Yuka Saso - First Filipino to Win the U.S.
Women's Open Championship
Litho Offset, Amstar Printing Company, Inc.,
Perf 14
Se-tenant Block of 4, Miniature Sheets of 8
Se-tenant Blocks of Four -
15,000
12p - Yuka Saso, Facing Left
14p - Yuka Saso, Facing Right
15p - Yuka Saso, With Golf Club
17p - Yuka Saso, With Trophy
Miniature Sheets of 8 - 7,500
Graphic Artists: Rodine C. Teodoro, Ryman
Dominic Albuladora
Photo Credit: Dino Kovic
Researcher/Writer: Maria Abigail D.
Tarroza
First Day Covers:
Manila
Yuka Saso – First Filipino to Win the U.S. Women’s Open Championship
Yuka Saso was born on June 20, 2001 to Fritzie
Saso and Masakazu Saso in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Her formative
years were spent between Japan and the Philippines, the latter being
where she mostly spent her time being homeschooled and trained in
golf. At an early age, her father started assisting Saso as she
trained for her sport. She enthusiastically represented the
Philippines in her tournaments.
Saso won the gold for the 2016 World Junior
Girls Championship. She was commended with a national award for her
double 2018 Asian Games win when at 17, she gained the first women’s
golf gold medal for the Philippines.
For her successive achievements, Yuka Saso has
been hailed by the Philippine Sportswriters Association as Athlete
of the Year in 2018 and 2020. That year, Saso also won two events
during the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour:
the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament and the Nitori Ladies Golf
Tournament. She participated in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, the
2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021. Yuka Saso turned to professional
golfing in 2019.
With the stunning triumph at the 76th U.S.
Women’s Open on June 7, 2021, Saso became the first Filipino
titleholder of a major golf championship. She was exactly 19 years,
11 months, and 17 days old when she won the championship held at The
Olympic Club in San Francisco, California, making her one of the
youngest persons in history to win the U.S. Women’s Open. Yuka Saso
is tied with Inbee Park who accomplished the same feat at the same
age back in 2008.