FILIPINO-JAPANESE golfer Yuka Saso fired a closing 71 to end up tied for 50th place at the ANA Inspiration on Sunday (Monday, Manila time) in Rancho Mirage, California.
The 19-year-old Saso, who had it rough in the previous round where she had a 5-over 77 showing, finished her campaign with three birdies and a double bogey for an even 288 in the $3.1-million tournament held at Mission Hills Country Club.
She was 18 strokes off winner Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, who pocketed the $465,000 (P22.6 million) winner’s pot.
For her effort, Ms. Saso, the 2018 Asian Games gold medal winner and recipient of the Athlete of the Year award for 2020 from the Philippine Sportswriters Association, earned $10,081 (P490,000).
Finishing runner-up was Lydia Ko of New Zealand.
Tied for 50th place with Ms. Saso were Celine Boutier (France), Dani Holmqvist (Switzerland), Pornanong Phatlum (Thailand), So Yeon Ryu and Amy Yang (South Korea).
The other Filipino golfer who saw action in the tournament, Bianca Pagdanganan, missed the cut. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo