Yuka Saso (Contributed photo)
MANILA – In her first tournament back from the Tokyo Olympics, Yuka Saso finished strongly in the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open that took place over the weekend, giving her needed confidence boost ahead of her next big tournament.
Saso, the world number eight women's golfer right now, put up a four-under-par 68 in the final round on Sunday at the Dumbarnie Links in Fife, Scotland, and she finished with a seven-under-par 281 in total, good for a share of 15th place with six more golfers.
The impressive Round 4 made up for her iffy performances in Days 2 and 3 that nearly bubbled her strong start.
Saso started on a high note with a five-under-par 67 in Round 1 on Thursday, an impressive stint for someone who has not played that much in a links golf course.
However, she barely kept an even-par 72 in Round 2 on Friday and went two-over-par 74 in Round 3 on Saturday, essentially keeping her away from the podium.
But her stint on Sunday gave her something positive to cherish ahead of the AIG Women's British Open.
Saso began the day with three birdies within the first seven holes, keeping her at a shot at barging into the Top 10.
But she finished the front nine with back-to-back bogeys, nearly wiping away her good mark in the first seven holes.
After another bogey at Hole 12, Saso came alive in the end, alternating birdies and pars in the final six holes to get the minus-4 for the final round.
The Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open, which was played in a links golf course, is part of Saso's gear up for the AIG Women's British Open, also to be played at another links golf course, the Carnoustie Golf Links also in Scotland.
Meanwhile, American Ryann O'Toole won the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open.
O'Toole, who was a stroke behind Saso after Round 1, went off in Round 4 with an eight-under-par 64 and finished with 17-under-par 271, three strokes ahead of joint second placers Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, each with 14-under-par 274.
Ko, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, had one of the best performances in Round 4, going nine-under-par 63 without a bogey, but her blitz still came up short. (PNA)
