Sports

Nasa Hataoka Struggles in Final Round at US Women's Open, Falls Out of Title Contention

After holding a one-stroke lead entering the final round of the US Women's Open, Hataoka had five bogeys in the last round and finished six strokes adrift.

Published

10 months ago

July 10, 2023

Ed Odeven

Nasa Hataoka tees off on the fourth hole of the final round of the 2023 US Women's Open in Pebble Beach, California, on July 9. (KYODO)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Nasa Hataoka Struggles in Final Round at US Women's Open, Falls Out of Title Contention

Golf is a humbling game, and the 2023 US Women's Open clearly demonstrated this.

Week after week, professional tournaments provide vivid examples of this. And recreational golfers can also share plenty of horror stories about good rounds turning into bouts of frustration in a hurry.

In the US Women's Open, Nasa Hataoka held a one-stroke lead entering the final round on Sunday, July 9. Hataoka had put herself in position to contend for the title with a bogey-free, 6-under 66 in the third round on Saturday. This effort included four birdies over the final nine holes and six birdies in total in the third round in Pebble Beach, California.

Hataoka shot a 6-over 76 in the final round, including five bogeys. And she finished tied with American Bailey Turdy for fourth.

"I was playing with the same aggressive mindset as the third round, but I'm frustrated that things didn't go well," Hataoka said, according to Kyodo News.

Putting was a major area of frustration for her.

"Well, today I was not able to achieve some of my targets unfortunately," Hataoka commented at Pebble Beach Golf Links. "Now, yesterday I think my putt work was quite good. But today I was not able to achieve those levels unfortunately."

Consistency Pays Off for Corpus

Allisen Corpuz, who trailed Hataoka by one stroke after three rounds, collected the winner's trophy with a 9-under 279, including a 69 on Sunday. Corpuz shot below par in all four rounds, the only participant to do so.

On the other hand, Hataoka followed her opening-round 69 with a 2-over 74 in the second round. Then she bounced back with the aforementioned 66.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.