Struggles in the final round pushed Yuka Saso down the leaderboard, so that first LPGA Tour of Japan majors title will have to wait.
The two-time 2020 JLPGA champion had to settle for joint 13th after finishing with a 5-under 283 after four rounds in the 2020 Konica Minolta Cup at the JFE Setonaikai Golf Course, Okinawa, Sunday afternoon.
Saso went into the final go-around just two strokes adrift the leader Yuna Nishimura at 9-under in the fourth spot. This time, though, she had a more difficult time.
Starting from the front nine, the 24-year-old had to settle for back-to-back bogeys in the sixth and seventh holes for a 38. Another one in the 10th hole pushed Saso further down, as even birdie in the 12th hole was not enough to rescue her afternoon.
Two more extra strokes in the 16th and 18th summarized the Asian Games champ’s hard-luck day on the course.
Japan’s Saki Nagamine took her first win of the season with a huge 12-under 276 after a roller-coaster of a tournament .
Saso travels with the rest of the field to Aichi in five days’ time. The tour rookie looks to bounce back at the three-round 51st DESCENTE Ladies Tokai Classic.
