Yuka Saso trails leader by 5 in LPGA Portland Classic


At a glance

  • Yuka Saso fired a 5-under-par 67 for a share of 11th place after two rounds in the LPGA Portland Classic at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon on Friday, Sept. 1.


Yuka Saso fired a 5-under-par 67 for a share of 11th place after two rounds in the LPGA Portland Classic at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon on Friday, Sept. 1.

Yuka Saso3
Yuka Saso plays her shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club on Sept. 1. (AFP)

The Fil-Japanese shot seven birdies – including four at the front nine – against a double bogey on the 17th hole to tally 135 after an opening-round 68.

She trails solo leader Perrine Delacour by five strokes after the Frenchwoman followed up her first-round 63 with a bogey-free 67 for 130.

Delacour, whose first-round 63 had given her a one-shot lead, again took advantage of the rain-softened Columbia Edgewater course in Portland, Oregon.

Her five birdies included four in five holes in her final nine -- at the third, fifth, sixth and seventh.

She nearly holed an eagle putt at the par-five seventh, and a birdie putt at her final hole, the ninth, was just inches short, but her closing par left Delacour on 14-under par 130 – one stroke clear of Sweden's Linn Grant.

American Megan Khang, who broke through for a first LPGA title in Canada on Sunday, was a further stroke back after an eagle and five birdies in a six-under 66 for 132.

Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan barely made the cut after fumbling for a 73 for 140.

Pagdanganan, who posted a first-round 67, made two birdies – on the ninth and 18th – but struggled at the back nine with bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 16th.

Dottie Ardina, however, missed the cut by five shots after a 73 for 145.