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Saso fades with 85 as Kim triumphs

MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso endured a nightmare final round, posting an 85 — her highest recorded score in recent memory — as she plummeted to a tied 30th finish in the 32-player field at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions won by Korean A Lim Kim in Orlando, Florida on Sunday (Monday Manila time).

The reigning US Women’s Open champion struggled with her game at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, carding six bogeys and four double bogeys against a lone birdie. After opening rounds of 70 and back-to-back 71s, Saso was in contention at tied 12th.

However, her final-round collapse saw her tumble down the leaderboard with a disastrous 41-44, finishing with a nine-over 297 total.

A bogey on the first hole set the tone for the tough day ahead, with further dropped shots on Nos. 3, 4, 8, 12 and 14 as she struggled with her long game and putting. Her poor iron play likewise resulted in double bogeys on all but one of the par-3 holes.

The 85 surpassed her previous highest LPGA round of 79, recorded in the second round of the 2022 TOTO Classic.

Meanwhile, Kim dominated the event from start to finish, capping her wire-to-wire victory with a closing 67. She fended off a late charge from Nelly Korda, who fired a 65, to claim the title at 20-under 268 — two strokes ahead of Korda (270).

Linn Grant secured third place with a 69, finishing at 273.

Saso will aim to bounce back when the LPGA Tour resumes with the Founders Cup from February 6-9 in Bradenton, Florida.

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