Yuka Saso rallies to win second US Women's Open

Yuka Saso of Japan shot a 2-under 68 in her final round to capture her second US Women's Open championship on Sunday at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club.

Saso, who also won in 2021 for her first major title, was one of just two players to finish the week under par. She started the day three off the pace but used four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to separate from the pack and finish the week at 4-under 276.

The three 54-hole co-leaders were Minjee Lee of Australia, Andrea Lee and Wichanee Meechai of Thailand at 5 under par. All three dropped down the leaderboard as they battled the difficult scoring conditions.

Saso swept in a 20-foot birdie putt at the second hole before her biggest hiccup, a four-putt double bogey at the par-3 sixth. She trailed Minjee Lee by two when she reached the par-3 12th and made the first of two consecutive birdies.

After another birdie at No. 15 gave her a two-shot cushion, Saso drove the green at the 232-yard par-4 16th and two-putted for birdie. She saved bogey from 3 1/2 feet at No. 17 before hitting a chip onto the 18th green that finished less than 2 feet away to set up a clinching par.

Born to a Japanese father and a Filipina mother, Saso has chosen to be a Japanese citizen and decided to represent Japan full-time.

Hinako Shibuno shot a 72 Sunday to make it a 1-2 finish for Japan, finishing the week 1 under. Andrea Lee bogeyed her final two holes to shoot 75 and fell to third at even par.

Ally Ewing joined Andrea Lee in third place as she tied the round of the day with a bogey-free 66. Thailand's Arpichaya Yubol posted 69 to take fifth at 1 over.

Meechai, who shot in the 60s for three straight days, posted a 77 to drop to 2 over and a tie for sixth with Ayaka Furue of Japan (68) and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand (68). Minjee Lee (78) was tied for ninth at 3 over. —Field Level Media/Reuters/KG, GMA Integrated News