Yuka Saso struggled at the start of her title-retention campaign in the US Women’s Open Presented by Promedica with a six-over-par 77 in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
The 20-year-old Bulacan native, who now represents Japan, couldn’t find her old form that won her the title last year by managing with only two birdies on the sixth and 16th holes.
Carding nines of 39 and 38, Saso stumbled with eight bogeys including five at the front nine.
She is currently tied for 133th place to trail early leader Mina Harigae by 13 strokes.
In contrast to Saso’s performance, Harigae torched the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club with nine birdies against two bogeys at the back nine for a 64.
Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan also wrestled with a 75 for a share of 111th place.
Starting at the back nine, the Tokyo Olympian opened with a birdie before fumbling with three bogeys and a double bogey on the 17th.
Pagdanganan briefly picked herself up with a birdie on the 18th, but double-bogeyed the next hole. She regained her composure with two more birdies against a lone bogey on the last eight holes.
Like Saso and Pagdanganan, Dottie Ardina also had a rollercoaster round of two birdies, four bogeys and double bogeys on the fifth and 10th to finish with a 78.