Yuka Saso saved her best for last in Aichi.
The two-time champion threatened to shake up the leaderboard before ultimately finishing her first LPGA Tour of Japan DESCENTE Ladies Tokai Classic in joint-8th with an 8-under 208, Sunday afternoon at the Shin Minami Aichi Country Club.
Saso was among the first golfers to finish the course, breaking through the top with a strong showing at the front nine. The 19-year-old showed up with four birdies, ending with a 3-under 33 despite a hiccup of a bogey in the sixth hole.
The 2018 Asian Games champion then consolidated her round with two more birdies in the 13th and 15th holes to finish with a 5-under 67.
Ayaka Furue took the title this time with a huge 15-under 201 and pocketed the 14.4-million yen prize.
Saso, nonetheless, maintains her lead in the race for Player of the Year in the JLPGA season. She added 1.867-million yen to her current winnings that currently stands at Y 63,964,000.
The Filipina-Japanese hopes to carry this momentum into her second majors, the Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship, starting October 1 in Fukuoka.
