Saso joint 25th in Hoken

MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso closed out with an even-par 72 and finished tied for 25th place at one-under 143 in the rain-shortened Hoken no Mado Ladies Open in Fukuoka, Japan.

One-under through eight holes upon play stoppage Saturday, Saso failed to get going in the resumption yesterday, ending up eight shots off the winner. She netted Y621,000 (P273,240).

Momoko Osato banged in a birdie in the third playoff hole to win the championship worth Y16.2 million over Shoko Sasaki in the tournament reduced to two rounds.

Osato and Sasaki finished the tourney at nine-under 135, two up on joint third placers Ayaka Takahashi and Yuri Yoshida and another two shots up on Seira Oki.

Five off the pace after the first round, Saso tried to mount a rally with a birdie-par-birdie start Saturday but then rains poured in after she bogeyed the par-3 No. 7.

And she hardly got into the groove in the closing holes. She went on a rollercoaster ride in the last six holes.