By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Yuka Saso carded a closing even-par 72 to finish tied for fifth place in the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, Sept. 10.
The Fil-Japanese bounced back with two birdies at the back nine after fumbling with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 5 and 6 to finish with a four-round total of 11-under 277, five strokes behind eventual champion Lee Minjee.
She posted earlier rounds of 69, 66 and 70, and pocketed $56,545 (around P3.2 million).
This was Saso’s best finish over the last four events where she missed the cut in the AIG Women’s Open, placed eighth in the CPKC Women’s Open and wound up at joint 59th in the Portland Classic.
She has yet to win an LPGA title since clinching the historic US Women’s Open crown in 2021 while still playing for the Philippines.
Lee lost a five-shot lead on the back nine and recovered just in time to beat Charley Hull on the second playoff hole for the trophy.
A two-time major champion, Lee closed the round with a 71 while Hull finished with a 69 to end the regulation with identical 272 totals.
