KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Yuka Saso’s bid for a follow up to her breakthrough win last year fizzled out early, closing out with a five-over-par 76 to finish in joint 32^nd place in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship won by Thai rookie Atthaya Thitikul in Rogers, Arkansas Sunday, Sept. 25 (Monday in Manila).

Trailing Thitikul by just one before the start of the third and final round, Saso self-destructed after birdying the second hole with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 8 before eventually bowing out of the title race with a backside 39 marred by a double bogey on No. 15.

Winner of the US Open title last year, the Fil-Japanese was a far cry from her deadly form in the first two rounds that saw her produce 64 and 65, respectively.

Her title bid was hurt after flubbing a couple of birdie and par chances from close range that dropped her out of the title chase.

She wound up with a 205 and tumbled to joint 32nd worth $15,048 (roughly P873,000).

After dispatching Saso, Thitikul withstood the challenge of a slew of others at the finish before outduelling multi-titled Danielle Kang on the second playoff hole to capture the crown.

The Thai had four birdies for a final-round 68 while Kang, playing her third tournament since June after treatment for a tumor on her spine, surged up the leaderboard with a 64. Both finished with 17-under total at 196 at the par-71 Pinnacle Country Club course.

It was another disappointing finish for Saso, who hasn’t won a title since capturing the US Women’s Open crown in 2021.

From a career-high No. 2, Saso has slipped to No. 33as she failed to make in the top 10 since January this year.

Korean Chella Choi and Pornaong Phatlum, also from Thailand, shot 65 and 66 to finish third and fourth with 197 and 199, respectively.