Yuka Saso slipped to a share of 12th place despite a 1-under 71 in the second round of the ANA Inspiration, the first major tournament of the US LPGA Tour at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.
Saso had four birdies but committed three bogeys, including the final hole, to card a two-day aggregate of 4-under 140, five behind leader Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand.
Tavatanakit maintained a one-stroke lead with 36 holes to play with a 135, one off China’s Shanshan Feng and two above fellow Thai Moriya Jutanugarn.
Saso’s fellow 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Bianca Pagdanganan missed the cut after posting a bogey-prone 148 for joint 87th place.
Pagdanganan opened her campaign with a 75 marred by a double-bogey on the par 5 ninth hole. She also double-bogeyed the par 3 eighth hole to finish the second round with a 73.
Saso made a strong impression in the opening round Thursday, April 1 (Friday, April 2 Manila time) with a 3-under 69, tied for eighth and trailed Tavatanakit by three strokes.
The 19-year-old had four birdies, three of which came in the back nine including the final hole.
“I think my putting was good, I had few far saves and my driving also was good,” Saso said after the first round.
She appeared to be doing just fine through the first 12 holes of the second round, recording two birdies and committing just one bogey.
But Saso bogeyed the 13th, came back to birdie the 15th, only to end the day with bogey on the 18th.
Saso shares identical scores with seven others, namely Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, Japan’s Yui Kawamoto, American Christina Kim, Sweden’s Dani Holmvqist and Ireland’s Leona Maguire.