Yuka Saso carded a closing 1-under-par 70 to finish tied for fourth place in the Cognizant Founders Cup in West Caldwell, New Jersey Sunday (Monday in Manila).
The reigning US Open champion stumbled with a double bogey on the par-4 third hole while firing four birdies against bogey on the ninth for a four-round aggregate of 274, eight strokes behind champion Jin Young Ko of South Korea.
It was an improvement from last week’s stint at the ShopRite LPGA where she finished tied for 19th.
The Filipino Tokyo Olympian had earlier rounds of 67, 70 and 60 for 10-under.
Saso tied with Korean Jeongeun Lee for the spot to go home with $138,664 (around P7 million).
Ko, meanwhile, sizzled with a 66 to capture the title with an 18-under 266 total.
The world No. 2 shot six birdies against a bogey five on the 17th and had earlier rounds of 63, 68 and 69.
Germany’s Caroline Masson (64) and United States’ Elizabeth Szokol (69) settled for second and third with 270 and 273 totals.
Meanwhile, Dottie Ardina posted a fourth-round 69 to finish at joint 33rd with a 3-under 281.
Ardina limped home with a double bogey on the par-5 eighth hole but made five birdies against a lone bogey on No. 4.
She had earlier rounds of 71, 70 and 71 to pocket $17,756 (around P900,000).