
Yuka Saso birdied the final hole to salvage an even-par 71 Friday and trail five shots off the leader through two rounds of the US Women’s Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.
Saso’s birdie negated an early bogey to go halfway into the LPGA’s final major championship of the year with a two-day aggregate of 140 for a share of sixth place.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno carded a 67 to grab the lead after 36 holes with a 135. Shibuno is three shots ahead of Swedish amateur Linn Grant.
Kaitlyn Papp, also an amateur, and fellow Americans Megan Khang and Amy Olson are tied for third at 139 while Saso is joined by Lindsey Weavor, Sarah Schmelzel, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Thailand’s Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn.
Bianca Pagdanganan’s reunion with fellow 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Saso in Houston ended by missing the cut after posting a four-over 75 for a two-day total of 147.
The LPGA Tour rookie started out strong with three birdies in the first five holes until she encountered five bogeys and two double bogeys despite an eagle on the 13th.
Pagdanganan had an opening round 72.
Saso stayed inside the top 10 despite committing a bogey on the par-four fifth hole. She did make up for her only miscue of the day with her birdie on the 18th.
The 19-year-old acknowledged after firing a 69 in the first round Thursday the difference between playing in Houston to the courses she had played in her maiden season in the Japan LPGA Tour.
“It’s really different and the golf course is tough. It’s long. The greens are firm so I have to use a driver off the tee,” she said.
“But in the Japan LPGA, I have to use a shorter club so I think that’s the big difference,” added Saso.