After missing the cut in her first tournament of the year, Yuka Saso is still in search of her form.
The two-time champion had to shake off an up-and-down start to finish just inside the top 50 list with a 1-over 73 after the opening round of the 2021 Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Ladies Yokohama Tire Golf Tournament, Friday at the Tosa Country Club in Kochi.
Starting from No. 1, the current money leader opened the day with a birdie, but soon after bungled in the following hole to get back to square one. A huge mistake in the par-4 sixth hole needed two additional hits and that brought her to 2-over 38 after the front nine.
The backside turned out to be Saso’s redeeming grace after she took it with more accuracy. She eventually came up with another birdie in the 15th to end the round with a better 1-over card.
Saki Takeo and Yuka Yasuda ended on top after the first 18 holes, taking the course with identical 5-under 67 scores.
Current top player leader Ayaka Furue sits at a tie for 21st at 1-under 71, with Daikin winner Sakura Koiwai joining her.
After last week’s tournament, Koiwai overtook Saso at second spot in the player leaderboard, but the Filipino-Japanese golfer still holds the lead in the money board with more than Y93-million (P41,366,242.01) in earnings.
