By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso rekindled the fire that led her to a breakthrough win last year, firing a vibrant six-under-par 66 to finish second in the LPGA Mediheal Championship title in Somis, California Sunday, Oct. 9 (Monday in Manila).
Well, Saso, who opted for Japanese citizenship early this year, almost did the unthinkable but she ran out of holes, settling for runner-up finish behind England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff.
Saso, who began the day six off the pace, eagled the par-5 eighth, birdied 14 and birdied each of the last three holes but it was only good enough to grab second.
“I made some putts. I gave myself a chance,” Saso said. “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and have fun.”
Apart from pocketing the handsome prize of $166,232 (around P9.8 million), the runner-up finish was Saso’s best showing since winning the US Open last year.
She finished third at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in January but her performance took a dive until this week where she tallied a four-day total of 274. She had earlier rounds of 70, 70 and 68.
Shadoff, who shot a final-round 71, led throughout the tournament with rounds of 64, 69 and 69 to finish with 273. The English golfer took home the $270,000 (around P15.9 million) top prize.
Georgia Hall of England, late co-leader Paula Reto of South Africa and American Danielle Kang sharing third on 275.
Reto, who won her first LPGA title in August at the Canadian Women’s Open, birdied four of the first eight holes and seized the lead and another birdie at 14 kept her level with Shadoff late but bogeys at 16 and 17 dropped her two adrift and that’s where she finished. (With a report from AFP)
