Japanese star keen for success at Golden Open
Japanese squash professional Risa Sugimoto is hopeful of going one better against a crack field at this weekend's annual Northern Star Golden Open.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder's premier squash tournament this year features players from nine different countries who are chasing $6000 prizemoney in each of the women's and men's divisions.
Sugimoto is fresh off an epic final of the South Australian Open in Adelaide, when the 30-year-old was beaten in five games by Hong Kong's Toby Tse (9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8).
This week Sugimoto has focused on her recovery before her opening round on Friday, when she will have to win two games to make it through to the semifinals.
'In last week's tournament, I was lucky enough to perform better than I previously had been, making it through to the finals,' Sugimoto said.
'This week, I want to work through my fatigue and try to perform through my fatigue to allow me to perform at my best on the first day of the tournament, which is hard with two matches to win.'
Sugimoto is hoping to use the Goldfields event to boost her ranking which will assist her chances in getting a call-up for the 2026 Asian Games.
'I am aiming to get my PSA ranking inside the world top-100,' she said.
'Next year I want to qualify for the Asian Games with the target of winning a medal.'
The No.4 seed, Sugimoto will take on Ka Huen Leung from Hong Kong in her first round.
Sugimoto is enjoying the contrast between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and her hometown Kyoto.
'It's very relaxed, very quiet (in Kalgoorlie-Boulder) and good for recovery,' she said.
'In Kyoto there is so much traffic and people everywhere.'
The top-three women's seeds are Helen Tang (China), Akari Midorikawa (Japan), and Wong Po Yui Kirstie (China).
Among a strong men's field, Sri Lanka's Ravindu Laksiri is the No.1 seed from Pakistan's Hamza Khan, and the Chinese duo of Wailok To and Ming Hong Tan.
Queenslander Brendan MacDonald is the highest-seeded Australian at No.11.
The Northern Star Golden Open gets under way on Friday from 10am at Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex and continues on Saturday and Sunday.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Lots of opportunities': Aussie golfers in US Open mix
Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend." Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend." Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend." Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are up for the chase after Japanese sensation Mao Saigo set a cracking pace in pursuit of a second straight major championship at the weather-hit US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Playing alongside Lee, Saigo produced the low second round, a sizzling six-under-par 66, to vault to a three-stroke lead after storms twice forced the suspension of play at Erin Hills, outside Milwaukee. The 23-year-old 2024 rookie of the year and winner of last month's Chevron Championship is eight under through 36 holes, with world No.1 Nelly Korda among her closest challengers. After a frustrating first day on the greens, Korda fired up with seven birdies in a second-round 67 to surge into a six-way tie for second at five under with fellow Americans Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Yealimi Noh (71), Japan's Hinako Shibuno (69), Swede Maja Stark (69) and South Korean A Lim Kim (71). Lee and fellow WA major champion Green are the leading Australians - and only two to make the halfway cut - and will start the weekend six back of Saigo at two under. Lee, the 2022 US Open champion and final-round leader last year, was chuffed to climb 40 spots up the leaderboard into a share of 19th and back in red numbers with a three-under 69. "I just hit it a little bit closer than yesterday. I probably had a lot of outside chances for birdie yesterday, like 25 to 30 feet, but today I had a few more that were like inside 15 feet," Lee said. "Just started really well, made two birdies on the get-go, so it was nice turning three under and had even on the back, just seeing a few more putts roll in and then just hitting it a little bit better." After watching Saigo drain seven birdies, Lee knows there will be weekend opportunities to make up the six-shot deficit and capture a third career major. "Just with maybe a little bit of rain softening the greens a couple of days ago, but I think USGA has a lot of tricks up their sleeve so they can always make it as tough as they can make it or they can make it really challenging and fun to play," Lee said. "The greens are probably going to get a little bit quicker and it will be a bit more interesting with, I guess, putting the tees in different places. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can hit it a little bit closer, just play aggressively when I can and play smart when I have to. That's going to be the key." Green also hopes to run down the leader after riding her luck in a round of 70. "This is probably the best placing that I've gone into an actual weekend of the US Open, so I'm hoping I'm not too far back," said the world No.8. "Six shots back, I'm not sure what the conditions are going to be like this weekend. I think the harder the better. "So I'm hoping I can just continue with the game plan that my caddy and I have and have a good weekend."
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
No clubs, no worries as prodigy makes US Open move
After surviving a real-life nightmare, American golf prodigy Amari Avery has Australian Gabriela Ruffels to thank for being in the thick of the mix at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Avery had to borrow Ruffels' clubs for the second round following a frightening midnight mix-up after an intruder tried to break in to her rental home near Milwaukee. The 20-year-old former junior world champion was forced to hastily pack up all her gear in the middle of the night and book into a hotel. Unfortunately, Avery's boyfriend was using the same type of travel bag and flew back to Los Angeles with her clubs on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). In one of golf's wildest tales, the blunder left Avery needing to use Ruffels' clubs, and even the hat off the Australian's head. Ruffels had missed the cut following her morning round before Avery proceeded to defy the odds and climb into contention at the year's second major. With consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes, her fifth and sixth of the day after teeing off on No.10, Avery surged to three under for the championship. She dropped a shot on her 12th hole but was only six strokes off the lead, tied for 20th at two under with Australian stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, when a storm forced the suspension of play. Avery will return to the course, possibly with her own equipment, hunting down Japanese leader Mao Saigo when her boyfriend's mother flies back with her clubs on Saturday. After surviving a real-life nightmare, American golf prodigy Amari Avery has Australian Gabriela Ruffels to thank for being in the thick of the mix at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Avery had to borrow Ruffels' clubs for the second round following a frightening midnight mix-up after an intruder tried to break in to her rental home near Milwaukee. The 20-year-old former junior world champion was forced to hastily pack up all her gear in the middle of the night and book into a hotel. Unfortunately, Avery's boyfriend was using the same type of travel bag and flew back to Los Angeles with her clubs on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). In one of golf's wildest tales, the blunder left Avery needing to use Ruffels' clubs, and even the hat off the Australian's head. Ruffels had missed the cut following her morning round before Avery proceeded to defy the odds and climb into contention at the year's second major. With consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes, her fifth and sixth of the day after teeing off on No.10, Avery surged to three under for the championship. She dropped a shot on her 12th hole but was only six strokes off the lead, tied for 20th at two under with Australian stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, when a storm forced the suspension of play. Avery will return to the course, possibly with her own equipment, hunting down Japanese leader Mao Saigo when her boyfriend's mother flies back with her clubs on Saturday. After surviving a real-life nightmare, American golf prodigy Amari Avery has Australian Gabriela Ruffels to thank for being in the thick of the mix at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Avery had to borrow Ruffels' clubs for the second round following a frightening midnight mix-up after an intruder tried to break in to her rental home near Milwaukee. The 20-year-old former junior world champion was forced to hastily pack up all her gear in the middle of the night and book into a hotel. Unfortunately, Avery's boyfriend was using the same type of travel bag and flew back to Los Angeles with her clubs on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). In one of golf's wildest tales, the blunder left Avery needing to use Ruffels' clubs, and even the hat off the Australian's head. Ruffels had missed the cut following her morning round before Avery proceeded to defy the odds and climb into contention at the year's second major. With consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes, her fifth and sixth of the day after teeing off on No.10, Avery surged to three under for the championship. She dropped a shot on her 12th hole but was only six strokes off the lead, tied for 20th at two under with Australian stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, when a storm forced the suspension of play. Avery will return to the course, possibly with her own equipment, hunting down Japanese leader Mao Saigo when her boyfriend's mother flies back with her clubs on Saturday. After surviving a real-life nightmare, American golf prodigy Amari Avery has Australian Gabriela Ruffels to thank for being in the thick of the mix at the US Women's Open in Wisconsin. Avery had to borrow Ruffels' clubs for the second round following a frightening midnight mix-up after an intruder tried to break in to her rental home near Milwaukee. The 20-year-old former junior world champion was forced to hastily pack up all her gear in the middle of the night and book into a hotel. Unfortunately, Avery's boyfriend was using the same type of travel bag and flew back to Los Angeles with her clubs on Friday morning (Saturday AEST). In one of golf's wildest tales, the blunder left Avery needing to use Ruffels' clubs, and even the hat off the Australian's head. Ruffels had missed the cut following her morning round before Avery proceeded to defy the odds and climb into contention at the year's second major. With consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes, her fifth and sixth of the day after teeing off on No.10, Avery surged to three under for the championship. She dropped a shot on her 12th hole but was only six strokes off the lead, tied for 20th at two under with Australian stars Minjee Lee and Hannah Green, when a storm forced the suspension of play. Avery will return to the course, possibly with her own equipment, hunting down Japanese leader Mao Saigo when her boyfriend's mother flies back with her clubs on Saturday.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Griffin, Taylor tied at Memorial halfway mark
Nick Taylor has brought his best golf on a day that required no less at the Memorial. The Canadian faced the worst of the weather, a rain that wouldn't quit, and putted for birdie on all but one hole on Friday, somehow keeping bogeys off his card and had a four-under 68 that gave him a share of the lead with Ben Griffin. "It was a clean card, which was not necessarily what I expected," Taylor said. "But it was nice to keep it as simple as possible." Griffin caught a slight break in the afternoon when the rain relented and Muirfield Village was soft. He had 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey for a 72 that put him at seven-under 137 with Taylor. Akshay Bhatia (69) is two shots behind, followed by defending champion and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (70) at four under. "Really a lot of good ball striking on the front nine to get me a good score there," Scheffler said. It was the highest 36-hole score to lead the Memorial since 2012. The rain was merely a nuisance that added to what already is a difficult test with rough that players feel will get them prepared for the US Open in two weeks at Oakmont. "The rough is almost second-to-none, at least for a 'regular' tour event," Taylor said. "Torrey Pines was pretty thick this year. Bay Hill is always thick. But it seems to be just a little bit thicker here, playing that much more difficult." Sam Burns played in the tougher morning conditions and shot 65 — 11 strokes better than his opening round — to get within four of the lead. Justin Rose (66) holed out from the fairway on No.3 for eagle and made six birdies on the back nine helping him to even par. Min Woo Lee (71) and Adam Scott (69) just survived the cut, at three and four over, respectively, but fellow Australian Cam Davis shot a second 78 to finish 12 over. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama (75) birdied the 17th and needed par on the 18th to get to the weekend. He hooked his drive so badly on the final hole that it cleared the stream running down the left side of the fairway. From mangled rough, he belted it up toward the green and got up-and-down. Collin Morikawa (75), who was tied for the lead through six holes, saved par on the 18th from a bunker and was in the group at two-under 142 that included Xander Schauffele (69), who enjoyed four birdies on his last five holes. With AAP. Nick Taylor has brought his best golf on a day that required no less at the Memorial. The Canadian faced the worst of the weather, a rain that wouldn't quit, and putted for birdie on all but one hole on Friday, somehow keeping bogeys off his card and had a four-under 68 that gave him a share of the lead with Ben Griffin. "It was a clean card, which was not necessarily what I expected," Taylor said. "But it was nice to keep it as simple as possible." Griffin caught a slight break in the afternoon when the rain relented and Muirfield Village was soft. He had 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey for a 72 that put him at seven-under 137 with Taylor. Akshay Bhatia (69) is two shots behind, followed by defending champion and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (70) at four under. "Really a lot of good ball striking on the front nine to get me a good score there," Scheffler said. It was the highest 36-hole score to lead the Memorial since 2012. The rain was merely a nuisance that added to what already is a difficult test with rough that players feel will get them prepared for the US Open in two weeks at Oakmont. "The rough is almost second-to-none, at least for a 'regular' tour event," Taylor said. "Torrey Pines was pretty thick this year. Bay Hill is always thick. But it seems to be just a little bit thicker here, playing that much more difficult." Sam Burns played in the tougher morning conditions and shot 65 — 11 strokes better than his opening round — to get within four of the lead. Justin Rose (66) holed out from the fairway on No.3 for eagle and made six birdies on the back nine helping him to even par. Min Woo Lee (71) and Adam Scott (69) just survived the cut, at three and four over, respectively, but fellow Australian Cam Davis shot a second 78 to finish 12 over. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama (75) birdied the 17th and needed par on the 18th to get to the weekend. He hooked his drive so badly on the final hole that it cleared the stream running down the left side of the fairway. From mangled rough, he belted it up toward the green and got up-and-down. Collin Morikawa (75), who was tied for the lead through six holes, saved par on the 18th from a bunker and was in the group at two-under 142 that included Xander Schauffele (69), who enjoyed four birdies on his last five holes. With AAP. Nick Taylor has brought his best golf on a day that required no less at the Memorial. The Canadian faced the worst of the weather, a rain that wouldn't quit, and putted for birdie on all but one hole on Friday, somehow keeping bogeys off his card and had a four-under 68 that gave him a share of the lead with Ben Griffin. "It was a clean card, which was not necessarily what I expected," Taylor said. "But it was nice to keep it as simple as possible." Griffin caught a slight break in the afternoon when the rain relented and Muirfield Village was soft. He had 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey for a 72 that put him at seven-under 137 with Taylor. Akshay Bhatia (69) is two shots behind, followed by defending champion and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (70) at four under. "Really a lot of good ball striking on the front nine to get me a good score there," Scheffler said. It was the highest 36-hole score to lead the Memorial since 2012. The rain was merely a nuisance that added to what already is a difficult test with rough that players feel will get them prepared for the US Open in two weeks at Oakmont. "The rough is almost second-to-none, at least for a 'regular' tour event," Taylor said. "Torrey Pines was pretty thick this year. Bay Hill is always thick. But it seems to be just a little bit thicker here, playing that much more difficult." Sam Burns played in the tougher morning conditions and shot 65 — 11 strokes better than his opening round — to get within four of the lead. Justin Rose (66) holed out from the fairway on No.3 for eagle and made six birdies on the back nine helping him to even par. Min Woo Lee (71) and Adam Scott (69) just survived the cut, at three and four over, respectively, but fellow Australian Cam Davis shot a second 78 to finish 12 over. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama (75) birdied the 17th and needed par on the 18th to get to the weekend. He hooked his drive so badly on the final hole that it cleared the stream running down the left side of the fairway. From mangled rough, he belted it up toward the green and got up-and-down. Collin Morikawa (75), who was tied for the lead through six holes, saved par on the 18th from a bunker and was in the group at two-under 142 that included Xander Schauffele (69), who enjoyed four birdies on his last five holes. With AAP. Nick Taylor has brought his best golf on a day that required no less at the Memorial. The Canadian faced the worst of the weather, a rain that wouldn't quit, and putted for birdie on all but one hole on Friday, somehow keeping bogeys off his card and had a four-under 68 that gave him a share of the lead with Ben Griffin. "It was a clean card, which was not necessarily what I expected," Taylor said. "But it was nice to keep it as simple as possible." Griffin caught a slight break in the afternoon when the rain relented and Muirfield Village was soft. He had 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey for a 72 that put him at seven-under 137 with Taylor. Akshay Bhatia (69) is two shots behind, followed by defending champion and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (70) at four under. "Really a lot of good ball striking on the front nine to get me a good score there," Scheffler said. It was the highest 36-hole score to lead the Memorial since 2012. The rain was merely a nuisance that added to what already is a difficult test with rough that players feel will get them prepared for the US Open in two weeks at Oakmont. "The rough is almost second-to-none, at least for a 'regular' tour event," Taylor said. "Torrey Pines was pretty thick this year. Bay Hill is always thick. But it seems to be just a little bit thicker here, playing that much more difficult." Sam Burns played in the tougher morning conditions and shot 65 — 11 strokes better than his opening round — to get within four of the lead. Justin Rose (66) holed out from the fairway on No.3 for eagle and made six birdies on the back nine helping him to even par. Min Woo Lee (71) and Adam Scott (69) just survived the cut, at three and four over, respectively, but fellow Australian Cam Davis shot a second 78 to finish 12 over. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama (75) birdied the 17th and needed par on the 18th to get to the weekend. He hooked his drive so badly on the final hole that it cleared the stream running down the left side of the fairway. From mangled rough, he belted it up toward the green and got up-and-down. Collin Morikawa (75), who was tied for the lead through six holes, saved par on the 18th from a bunker and was in the group at two-under 142 that included Xander Schauffele (69), who enjoyed four birdies on his last five holes. With AAP.
