Saso shoots 70, but still trails leader by seven in Portland Classic


At a glance

  • Yuka Saso carded a 2-under-par 70 but stumbled for a share of 16th place after three rounds in the LPGA Portland Classic at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 2.


Yuka Saso carded a 2-under-par 70 but stumbled for a share of 16th place after three rounds in the LPGA Portland Classic at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 2.

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Yuka Saso watches her shoot during third round of the Portland Classic. (AFP)

Starting the round at joint 11th, the Fil-Japanese blasted two eagles on the par-5 seventh and 10th holes but struggled with five bogeys against three birdies for a three-round total of 205.

She had earlier rounds of 68 and 67.

Her performance tied her with second-round leader Perrine Delacour and put her seven strokes behind American Megan Khang, who grabbed the solo lead by shooting a third straight 66 for 198.

“Game feels pretty solid,” Khang told lpga.com. 

“I think last week definitely helped build some confidence, knowing I can win out here. It's not just if it was going to happen or when, but like it has happened, so it's definitely a great feeling to have under the belt,” she added.

Khang, who guns for a second straight title after winning last week’s CPKC Women’s Open At Shaughnessy in Vancouver, British Columbia, shot seven birdies against a lone bogey on the ninth to take a one-stroke lead over Korean Hyo Joon Jang and Monday qualifier Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand.

Jang, ranked No. 488 in the world, waxed hot with 11 birdies and one bogey for 62 while Wannasaen, 19, posted a 65.

Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan scored an even-par 72 for 212 at joint 62nd after a rollercoaster round of five birdies and the same amount of bogeys.