By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Filipina-Japanese Yuka Saso survived blustery conditions and carded a 3-under-par 69 to trail leaders now by one stroke heading into the final round of the LPGA Ford Championship in Arizona on Saturday, March 30.
Braving the gusty winds at the Seville Golf and Country Club and showing steely nerves, Saso overcame a four-putt double-bogey on No. 15 with two birdies in her final three holes.
Before that double-bogey, she was doing well after gunning down six birdies against three bogeys.
Still, it was enough to tally a three-round total of 14-under 202 for joint fourth. She had earlier rounds of 70 and 63.
Saso started the round three shots behind overnight leader Hannah Green before trimming the gap.
While Green floundered, Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, Korean Hyo Joo Kim and Sarah Schmelzel of the United States flourished under another difficult conditions. And so was Saso, who drew level with Sweden’s Maja Stark, who shot an eagle-aided 66.
Ciganda, who went to Arizona State and has lived in Arizona for the last six years, took advantage of her familiarity with the weather by firing a 66 to leapfrog from a share of 22nd place to a shot at winning the LPGA Tour title for the first time in eight years.
The Spaniard powered her way on top with two eagles against three birdies and a lone bogey on 14th before wind picked up across the course.
Kim, meanwhile, had three birdies for a 69 while Schmelzel posted a 70 on four birdies against two bogeys to share the top seat with Ciganda.
Saso, 22, is itching to end her title slump since winning the US Women’s Open in 2021.
She came close to ending that drought but failed in both occasions, finishing second in the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in 2022 and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2023.
