Yuka Saso registered another 6-under 65 for the day and closed out her 2021 LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship with a share of fourth place (14-under 199), Monday (Manila time) at the Pinnacle Country Club, in Rogers.
The result could see the 20-year-old standout at least get back her world number 6 standing next week after slipping a notch in this week’s release. What is certain is that Saso pocketed an additional $104,506 (P5,330,120) to her earnings, and went seven places higher — 28th to 21st — in the Road to CME Globe Championship rankings.
Saso’s day was near-perfect, coughing up just two bogeys in her foray in the 18-hole course for the last time this week. Furthermore, the 2021 US Women’s Open champion registered not just one, but two eagles off No. 7 and another one with a parting shot at No. 18.
The Tokyo Olympian had a relatively quiet start, settling for pars, before gaining a shot at No. 6, preceding that No. 7 eagle. Saso then had to recover from bogeys at 11 and 14 with birdies in the respective succeeding holes. Another birdie at No. 17 set her up for the huge finish.
“I had one month off and it’s good to be back. The crowd is amazing,” Saso said.
Meanwhile, Dottie Ardina closed her tournament strong with a bogey-less 3-under 68, 4-under 209 in total to end in a share of 56th place and with $5,923 (P 302,090.77).
Bianca Pagdanganan, on her part, needed a birdie to rescue a tough backside to eventually finish with a total of 1-under 212, a tie at 74th place, and with $4,188 (P 213,600.56).
Saso’s US Women’s Open runner-up Nasa Hataoka captured the title, fending off the late surge from Ji Eun-Hee and Minjee Lee. The Japanese star won the trophy by the slimmest of margins — a solitary hit — and took home the S345,000 (P17,596,035) winner’s prize.
