By Waylon Galvez
Filipino-Japanese Yuka Saso struggled with a two-over 74 as she fell to ninth place through the second round of the Earth Mondahmin Cup Friday at the Camellia Hills Country Club in Chiba, Japan.
Yuka Saso in file photo
The 19-year-old Saso, in her first LPGA of the Japan Tour, missed several birdie opportunities as she found herself five shots behind leader Mizuka Tanaka, who shot a 67 for a 135.
Saso has a two-day total of 140.
The Jakarta Asian Games gold medalist was brilliant in the opening round of the $2.1 million tournament after she fired a 66, which tied her with early leaders Mayu Hamada and Tsugumi Miyazaki.
Saso, who helped the Philippines win the women’s team event in the Jakarta Asian Games, birdied on 11 but bogeyed on the next. On 16, she made double bogey then failed to convert a birdie on the closing par-5 hole.
As for Tanaka, she made seven birdies for a three-shot lead on Ji Hee Lee, who also carded a 67 to tie Ai Suzuki and Ayaka Watanabe at second at 138.