Saso fires 7-under, blazes to joint fifth

MANILA, Philippines — Filipina ace Yuka Saso made her big move on moving day, firing an eagle-spiked seven-under par 64 to soar to joint fifth in the Marathon LPGA Classic yesterday in Sylvania, Ohio.

Saso, who was tied for 28th at the start of the round, matched the day’s best round with her 31-33 card to zoom into the Top 5 entering the final 18 holes of the $2-million event.

The reigning US Women’s Open champion is at 11-under 202 through three rounds, eight shots behind the red-hot Nasa Hataoka of Japan, who equaled Saso’s 64, for 194 overall.

The 20-year-old Saso sits two adrift Mina Harigae (68) and Elizabeth Szokol (67), who share second on 13-under, and one off fourth-running Esther Henseleit (67).

Tokyo-bound Saso eagled the par-4 No. 9 to highlight a fiery performance that also featured seven birdies against two bogeys and needed only 24 putts to complete her round.

Compatriot Bianca Pagdanganan similarly holed in an eagle for the day en route to 68 and three-under 210 after 54 holes.