By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Yuka Saso limped home with a 6-over-par 78 and dropped to a share of 59th place in the LPGA Portland Classic at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Entering the round at joint 16th, the Fil-Japanese blew hot and cold on the front nine with a single birdie on the seventh against two bogeys and two double bogeys.
Her struggle continued with another bogey mishap on No. 12 before shooting a birdie on the last hole to finish with a four-round total of 283 — 21 strokes behind Thai qualifier Chanettee Wannasaen, who grabbed the title after a scintillating, bogey-free 63.
Saso’s game was so bad she was overtaken by Bianca Pagdanganan, who carded a 69 to finish tied for 53rd at 281.
Pagdanganan went home richer by $4,686 (around P260,000) while Saso pocketed $3,780 (around P210,000).
The 19-year-old Wannasaen put together four stellar rounds in the 60s and shattered the tournament scoring record by five strokes with a 26-under 262 total for her first LPGA Tour victory.
The teen was never really threatened in the final round and comfortably beat Lin Xiyu of China, who scored a 64 for 266.
American Megan Khan, meanwhile, failed in her bid to win consecutive events after slipping at sixth with a 71 for 269.
