Yuka Saso drops to 3rd, still eyes Lotte Championship title
After staying on top in the first half of the LPGA Lotte Championship, Yuka Saso surrendered the lead to top contender Lydia Ko of New Zealand on Friday, April 16 (Saturday, April 17, Manila time), but aims to bounce back in the final round.
Unlike her back-to-back 64 performance in the first two rounds, Saso had a rough start to the 3rd round and ended with a 71 in the event staged at the Kapolei Golf Club in Oahu, Hawaii.
The Filipina teen golf sensation fired 4 bogeys in No. 1, 4, 5, and 8, but managed to rebound with birdies in No. 2, 7, 9, 14, and 17.
Tallying a 17-under 199 total after 54 holes, the Filipino-Japanese dropped to solo 3rd place, 4 strokes behind surging world No. 11 Ko, who scored a 7-under 65 in the 3rd round for a 21-under 195 total.
American world No. 4 Nelly Korda impressed with a 9-under 63 to take solo 2nd place, just a stroke behind the current tournament leader.
The Philippine Sportswriter’s Association (PSA) 2020 Athlete of the Year is playing in the event on her first visit to Hawaii, thanks to a sponsors’ exemption.
Saso, 19, is a regular on the LPGA of Japan Tour, but she finished in the top 15 at last year’s US Women’s Open. She is looking for her first victory in the US-based LPGA Tour. – Rappler.com