Yuka Saso finishes tied for 4th, pockets close to P7 million

By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Yuka Saso bucked a slow start to salvage a one-under par 70 and finish tied for fourth place in the Cognizant Founders Cup in West Caldwell, New Jersey Sunday (Monday in Manila).\

The reigning US Open champion stumbled with a double bogey on the par-4 third hole, recovered a bit with a birdie on the 8^th but closed out her frontnine with a bogey.

Good thing, she birdied the 11^th, 13^th and 15^th holes to finish with a 274, eight strokes behind runaway winner Jin Young Ko of South Korea who closed out with a 66 for a 266 total.

Saso’s fourth place finish was a marked improvement from last week’s ShopRite LPGA where she finished tied for 19^th.

The Filipino Tokyo Olympian, who shot 67, 70 and 60 in the first three rounds, wound up tied with Korean Jeongeun Lee and pocketed $138,664 each (roughly  P7 million).

Ko, the world No. 2, highlighted her round with six birdies against a bogey five to finish four shots ahead of Germany’s Caroline Masson who sizzled with a 64.

American Elizabeth Szokol settled for third – three shots farther back at 273.

Meanwhile, Dottie Ardina posted a fourth-round 69 to finish at joint 33^rd with a 3-under 281.

Ardina could have fared better if not for a double-bogey on the par-5 eighth hole but made five birdies against a lone bogey on No. 4.

She had earlier rounds of 71, 70 and 71 to pocket $17,756 (around P900,000)