Park beats Saso charge for TCC trophy

Park Sung-hyun played her worst round of the week on Friday and barely survived Filipino amateur Yuka Saso at the end of the $100,000 TCC Ladies Championship, which the South Korean World No. 1 won by just two in Laguna.

Park had three bogeys against a single birdie in the closing two-over-par 74, turning back Saso by just two after the reigning Asian Games gold medalist found the huge pond guarding the 17th green, which proved to be the difference in the end.

Saso returned a 72—tying the best effort on a demanding day—to cap a sterling performance that had Park heaping praises on her all week.

Park tallied a seven-under-par 209 over the windswept The Country Cluba layout in Laguna, with Saso the only other player to crack par with a 207.

Dottie Ardina fired a 73 to finish 10 shots off with Princess Superal closing out with a 76 for 221.

“I really had fun in the last three days,” Park said after accepting the $15,000 top prize, before continuing to marvel at Saso’s talent.

“She’s pro material,” Park said of Saso, a 17-year-old who won the team and individual gold medals in the Asian Games in Jakarta.