Saso bombs out with 76, ends up joint 13th

MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso’s stab at a first major crown and a third LPGA of Japan Tour leg victory ended in a disappointing joint 13th finish as she reeled with a flawed start and a shaky finish for a four-over 76 in the Japan LPGA Championship ruled by Saki Nagamine in Okayama yesterday.

Nagamine charged back from four down off a hot-starting Hee Kyung Bae and wrested control with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 8 then checked a looming skid with clutch pars to close out with a 69. She claimed her first major victory and second career win via a one-stroke triumph over Na-Ri Lee (67), Ayako Kimura (69) and Hikari Tanabe (71) on a 12-under 276 total at the JFE Setonaikai Golf Club.

The 25-year-old Nagamine, who topped the Fujisankei Classic in 2018, pocketed the juicy Y36 million purse a week after missing the cut at Golf5 Ladies, her earnings lifting her from No. 25 to No. 3 in the Mercedes ranking with 489.75 points behind winnings of Y44,440,000.

Despite another outside Top 10 finish, Saso, who tied for 29th at Golf5 Ladies after scoring back-to-back title romps at NEC Karuizawa and Nitori Ladies, kept her top ranking in the Player of the Year derby, her Y2,640,000 prize hiking her winnings to Y62,088,000 worth 644.85 points.