Saso finishes third, takes P3.1M – Manila Bulletin

Filipino-Japanese and tour rookie Yuka Saso finished 73 out of two over par to place tied for third at the Daio Paper Elleair Ladies Open on Sunday at Elleair Golf Course in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

Saso, the 19-year-old Asian Games gold medalist, finished tied with Erika Kikuchi, who had a final round of 70, as the two had a similar total of 275 in four days, six shots behind winner Ayake Furue.

Furue, 20, shot a 69 in the fourth round and was 15 under par for the tournament with 269 for a three-shot win over South Korea’s Min-Young Lee, whose last round 66 gave him 272.

Saso had the lead in two rounds, but was relegated to second after Furue scored a 64 in the third round against her 67.

Saso’s return attempt in the fourth round started with a bogey at 1, and although he birdied six, he double-bogeed at 7, his first double bogey at the event.

He also had a bogey at 12 and a birdie at 14.

Third place gave Saso an excellent four-day profit of ¥ 6.5 million, or roughly P3.1 million for the ICTSI-backed golfer. Still, it was an achievement considering she missed out to qualify in her last event, the Itoen Ladies Golf Tournament.

However, the streak continues for Saso as he looks to end a losing streak after winning back-to-back tournaments, the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament and the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament last August.