After an intense storm delayed the last major of the year for another day, Yuka Saso took it as an opportunity to reset.
The 2018 Asian Games champion bucked the chilly weather and a mishap near the end to finish at a tie for 13th place at the close of her debut US Women’s Open stint at the Cypress Creek Course, Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, USA, Tuesday (Manila time).
Saso wrapped up the Open with 1-over 72 for the day. She scored a 5-over 289 in total and pocketed US$96,800 (PHP 4,654,144).
The 19-year-old rookie started the final round slow the day before, needing an extra it to finish number three. She went through two more holes before the rain started to dampen the course with the last flight of golfers yet to take on the tee.
Saso then took on the course with a renewed mindset but was initially set back by another bogey in the seventh. The Filipina-Japanese, however, followed it up with a huge birdie in par-3 number 8.
A laser-like approach from the tee almost led to a hole-in-one, which Saso ultimately tapped in for a birdie.
Her confidence seemed to shoot up a notch after that. She even went close to a top 10 finish with two more birdies at the 12th and 13th.
A double bogey in the 17th, however, pushed the top JLPGA rookie back to a joint 17th place. Movements along the field then sealed her finish with a 5-over 289 card on her side.
South Korean Kim A Lim – a rookie as well, but with LPGA of Korea tour – took advantage of the roller-coaster of a day to win her first-ever US Women’s Open title on her debut.
The Korean, who stormed to world number 30, ended the tournament with a hat-trick of birdies for a huge 4-under 67. She ended up with 3-under 281, the major title, and the US$1-million prize.
Saso, on her part, zoomed to number 45 in the latest rankings after this solid finish in the Open, solidifying her case for a berth into next year’s Tokyo Olympics. Bianca Pagdanganan is also in the top 50 of the Olympic rankings at 41st despite missing the cut in this tournament.
