Yuka Saso rallied with a two-under 70 and finished in joint 10th in the Fujitsu Ladies 2020 topped by former Korean No. 1 Jiyai Shin in Chiba Prefecture, Japan on Sunday.
She finished the 54-hole event five shots off the pace with a 214 total. She pocketed Y1.935 million (roughly P900,000).
Shin, meanwhile, pounced on erstwhile leader Saki Asai’s frontside struggle (37) and took charge with a 35 then she flashed vintage form to pull away with three birdies in the first seven holes at the back for a 69-209 and a two-stroke victory over compatriot Bae Seon Woo and last year’s champion Ayaka Furue.
Saso also consoled herself by edging arch rival Sakura Koiwai in the placing with the latter finishing tied for 12th with a 71.
Koiwai ruined Saso’s three-title bid with a victory in Golf5 Ladies apart from overtaking the Fil-Japanese in the Player of the Year derby with a runner-up finish in Japan Women’s Open.
Kowai stayed on top with 863.86 points against Saso’s 808.85 points.
Saso, however, remained No. 1 in the money rankings with a total of Y68,115,250 (roughly P31.5 million) with Koiwai in second with Y56,456,142 and Earth Mondahmin Cup winner Ayaka Watanabe at third with Y54,615,500.