Yuka Saso of Japan hits from the 1st tee during the final round of the 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio Golf Club on January 30, 2022 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AFP)

Yuka Saso fired a closing five-under-par 67 to finish third in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in Boca Raton, Florida on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Fil-Japanese shot six birdies against a lone bogey on the par-4 seventh hole to finish with a four-round total of 12-under 276, just two strokes behind eventual champion Lydia Ko.

She had earlier rounds of 67, 70 and 72.

Starting the final round four shots behind third-round leader Ko, Saso managed two sand saves and averaged a driving distance of 280 yards.

So pocketed $133,664 cash prize (around P6.8 million) for her feat, which was her best performance so far since winning the US Women’s Open Champion in June last year.

It was also a slight improvement from her sixth place finish at last week’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida.

Meanwhile, Ko maintained her pace and carded a fourth-round 69 to clinch the title with a 14-under 274 total.

The world No. 3 went home with the $300,000 champion’s purse (around P15.3 million).

Daniel Kang came in second after shooting a 68 for 275.

Completing the Top 5 were Charley Hull (68) and Celine Boutier (69), who tied for fourth with 277.


Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/31/yuka-saso-finishes-third-in-gainbridge-lpga-earns-p6-8-million/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=yuka-saso-finishes-third-in-gainbridge-lpga-earns-p6-8-million)