Yuka Saso needed a strong finish to zoom into the share of 15th place with a 2-under 70 for the day highlighted by an eagle in the second round of the 2021 JLPGA TOTO Japan Classic at the Seta Golf Course North Course in Shiga, Friday afternoon.
The 20-year-old Tokyo Olympian struggled in the backside during her first day back on the JLPGA tour on Thursday, but this time it was that side that propelled her into the day’s finish.
Saso once more opened the round with a birdie but needed to take an extra shot on the immediate following hole. Another birdie on hole No. 3 had to get cancelled by a dropped shot just as she ended the front nine to get stuck in 1-under overall.
Another bogey in No. 10 saw the reigning U.S. Open champion slip into even par and down the leaderboard, before powering through No. 13 for the eagle.
Needing to get something going, Saso tackled said par-5 hole in just three strokes, pulling the Fil-Jap world number 6 back into the top 20 — to even as high as a tie of 12th place. Another birdie in No. 16 rounded up her day at a share of 15th place.
Sakura Koiwai once more used a strong backside to maintain her lead with a 10-under 134, just a stroke ahead of Ayaka Furue. Furue zoomed into second place with a huge 5-under 67 for the day.
Saso, on her part, will attempt to continue her climb as the third and second-to-the-last round of the tournament is set on Saturday morning.
