Yuka Saso shot a bogey-free six-under-par 65 to trail solo leader and Thai rookie Atthaya Thitikul by one stroke after two rounds in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Arkansas Saturday, Sept. 24 (Sunday in Manila).
The Tokyo Olympian fired six birdies at the Pinnacle Country Club to continue her blistering start and bolster her hunt for a first title since winning the US Women’s Open in 2021.
She had her last top 10 finish last January. This was also the second time that Saso shot a bogey-free round after carding a 64 on the opening day.
Her two-round aggregate of 129 puts her at solo second behind Thitikul, who torched the course with an eagle-aided, bogey-free 61 for 128.
Former amateur No. 1 Lilia Vu of the United States is at third with 130 after a second-round 65 that also saw her firing an eagle 3 on No. 7 apart from four birdies at the back nine.
Crowding the fourth spot are Chella Choi (63), Danielle Kang (65), Hye-Jin Choi (65), Jennifer Kupcho (65), Muni He (66), Charlie Hull (66), Megan Kahng (68), Ryann O’Toole (68), and Jeongeun Lee (68).
Saso tees off in the third round at 8:54 a.m. with Thitikul and Vu.