Lancaster, United States: Japan’s Ukauka Saso shot a two-under 68 to win his second US Open on Sunday to win his second US Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Sasso finished with a four-under 276 to capture her second LPGA Tour title — three years after winning the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco — while representing the Philippines.
“I feel great,” said Saso, whose mother is from the Philippines and whose father is from Japan.
“By winning and representing the Philippines in 2021, I feel like I’m giving back to my mother. I can represent Japan this year and I think I can give back to my father.
“It’s just a good feeling that I can respond the same way to my parents.”
Saso became the third player to win the first two LPGA majors, after South Korea’s Park Se-ri and Chun In-ge, and at the age of 22 became the youngest player to win the US Women’s Open twice.
To that end, Sasso rattled off a four-bogey double bogey at the sixth, birdieing five holes from 12 through 16 to tie for a triple-double for the night. Australia’s Minji Lee is down.
“I just tried to be patient there,” said Saso, “I think that’s what you need to win a career like this, to play with your teammates and enjoy the challenge.”
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, who won her first major championship at the 2019 British Women’s Open, shot a two-over 72 to finish second at 279 under par.
Shibuno was beaten overnight by co-leaders of the United States Andrea Lee and American Allie Ewing. Ewing climbed the leaderboard with a four-under 66, while Lee had a 75-over.
Third-round co-leader Wichanee Meechai of Thailand shot 77 for a tied 282, while two-time major champion Minji Lee had a nightmare 78 to finish tied for 283.
Australian Lee did not find the fairway on the front nine, but scored twice in the round.
But as the mistakes piled up, Saso drilled a 10-foot birdie putt at the 12th and took a one-way lead with a birdie at the par-5 13th.
He added a pair of birdies on 15 and 16, driving the green on the short 16th.
