Golf: No title, but Yuka Saso still outstanding in Japan LPGA debut | ABS-CBN

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Golf: No title, but Yuka Saso still outstanding in Japan LPGA debut

Golf: No title, but Yuka Saso still outstanding in Japan LPGA debut

ABS-CBN News

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Yuka Saso at the 2018 Asian Games. AFP/file

Yuka Saso left an impressive mark in her first Japan LPGA Tour event, shooting a closing 4-under 68 and finishing in the top five of the rain-delayed 2020 Earth Mondahmin Cup at the Camellia Hills Country Club in Chiba.

Thanks to a five-birdie outing that was stained by a lone bogey in the final round, the 2018 Asian Games two-gold winner ended up joint fifth with a 279, two shots behind champion Ayaka Watanabe, who won a one-hole sudden death over Ai Suzuki.

Although Watanabe received the top prize of 43.2 million Japanese yen, it was 19-year-old Saso who turned heads and demonstrated she could hang with top-quality competition.

Saso, daughter of a Japanese businessman and a mother who hails from Bulacan, took home 8.64 million yen (about P4 million).

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This was Saso’s third attempt at a maiden victory abroad, and even though she fell short she could use this performance as a morale boost in coming events.

Against Japan’s elite lady golfers, she charged to a six-under 66 in Day 1, highlighted by four straight birdies from Nos. 3 to 6 on the inward nine.

The second round, though, brought her back down to Earth, as she tumbled to a 74, no thanks to a double bogey on the 16th.

On the penultimate day, also known as the moving day in a 72-hole event, Saso carded a 71 to remain in the top 10 and have a shot at a top-3 finish.

Overall, Saso did an admirable job keeping pace with Watanabe and Suzuki. Even when she was down six going to the last 18, she never gave up and, at one point, even had the chance to win it.

Watanabe and Suzuki, both veterans in the JLPGA, proved steadier, though, with the former holing out from about 12 feet on the 18th, the chosen playoff hole.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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