YUKA Saso shot a final-round 75 yesterday and ended in a three-way tie for 39th place at the close of the AIG Women’s Open at the Carnoustie Links in Carnoustie, Scotland.
Saso had a rollercoaster round marked by a double bogey on hole No. 1, a triple bogey on the par 4 No. 7, and three more bogeys that were nearly offset by five birdies, including three on the last eight holes over the challenging par-71, 6,649-yard layout.
The reigning US Women’s Open champion had a four-round tally of 288, netting her $30,583 (around P1.5 million). She finished 12 shots behind Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist, who clinched her third major title with a 69 and 276 for a thrilling one-stroke win over two others.
Tied for the lead with Danish Nanna Koerstz going into the 18th, Nordqvist holed out with a simple par while her rival had a double bogey. The Swede won the top prize of $870,000 (P43.6 million).
The US LPGA tour takes a break to give way to the Solheim Cup, the biennial women’s match play tournament featuring the best of the US against Europe on Sept. 4 to 6 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
The circuit resumes with the Cambria Portland Classic on Sept. 16-19 at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Oregon. — Bong Pedralvez
