Saki Baba (馬場咲希, Baba Saki) (born 25 April 2005) is a Japanese professional golfer. She won the 2022 U.S. Women's Amateur.[1]
| Saki Baba 馬場咲希 | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | 25 April 2005 Hino, Tokyo, Japan |
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Sporting nationality |  Japan |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 2023 |
| Current tour(s) | LPGA of Japan Tour Epson Tour |
| Best results in LPGA major championships | |
| Chevron Championship | CUT: 2023 |
| Women's PGA C'ship | DNP |
| U.S. Women's Open | T49: 2022 |
| Women's British Open | CUT: 2023 |
| Evian Championship | CUT: 2023 |
Career
editIn 2021, Baba finished sixth in the Kanto Women's Amateur and seventh in the Kanto Junior Championship. The next year, she won both tournaments.[2]
Baba qualified for the 2022 U.S. Women's Open at the Boso Country Club in Japan on 25 April, her 17th birthday, carding rounds of 69-70. At Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Baba shot 73-72-70-78 to finish tied for 49th, one of four amateurs to make the cut.[3]
In August 2022, Baba won the U.S. Women's Amateur, becoming the second Japanese player to capture the title after Michiko Hattori in 1985. Baba won the last six holes of the 36-hole final, ending the match against Canadian Monet Chun with a birdie on the 27th hole, for a score of 11 and 9.[4]
Baba represented Japan at the 2022 Espirito Santo Trophy in France alongside Mizuki Hashimoto and Miku Ueta. They shared third place with Germany, one stroke behind Sweden and the United States.[5]
Baba turned professional in 2023 and earned status on the 2024 LPGA of Japan Tour and Epson Tour via qualifying school.[6]
Amateur wins
edit- 2022 Kanto Women's Amateur Championship, Kanto Junior Championship, U.S. Women's Amateur
Source:[2]
Team appearances
editAmateur
- Espirito Santo Trophy (representing Japan): 2022
References
edit- ^ "17-year-old wins U.S. Women's Amateur with wild 11&9 beatdown at Chambers Bay". Golf.com. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Saki Baba". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Player Bio: Saki Baba". USGA. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Golf: Japan's Saki Baba, 17, wins U.S. Women's Amateur championship". Kyodo News. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ Leonard, Todd (27 August 2022). "U.S. charge comes up short as Sweden women win World Amateur Team title". Golf Digest. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ Nichols, Beth Ann (29 November 2023). "LPGA Q-Series: Tour winners, Solheim Cup players and brand new pros set for 108-hole grind". Golfweek.