YUKA Saso rode Australian partner Minjin Lee’s hot putter as the duo combined for a final round of 62 yesterday (Saturday in the US) to wind up fifth in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at the Midland Golf Club in Midland, Michigan.
Performing in the best-ball format in the last round of the team tournament, Lee eagled holes Nos. 2 and 12 on top of three birdies against two bogeys as the tandem had their best round over the par-70, 6,250-yard course after shooting earlier rounds of 69, 66 and 65, respectively.
With a 72-hole total of 262, Saso and Lee finished six shots behind Thai sisters Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn, who closed out with a second 59, the day’s lowest, for a three-shot win to dethrone American Cydney Clayton and Thai Jasmine Suwanapura, who went down fighting with a 64.
Four shots behind Saso and Lee in a five-way deadlock at 12th place at 266 was the squad of Bianca Pagdanganan and American Sarah Schmelzel, who combined for a 66 after firing earlier rounds of 69, 62 and 69in the second edition of the competition.
