Yuka Saso encountered yet another tough round, slipping further the leaderboard with a 4-under overall for a share of 40th place, as the day closed in the 2021 LPGA CME Group Tour Championship, Sunday morning (Philippine time) at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
The world no. 6 tried to carry her momentum from the opening round, but instead had a roller-coaster of a day on Friday. This is something she tried to avoid for her performance in Moving Day.
However, Saso registered another 1-over in the day with most of the mishaps coming in early in the day.
The reigning Asian Games champion needed an extra shot as early as No. 1, and slipped further the ranks with a double three holes later — to move to four strokes more from where she ended two days ago. Fortunately, Saso carved a birdie at No. 7 to end the front side just two strokes over the par 36.
Just what happened the other day, Saso had another up-and-down take on the back side, which saw her take three birdies and two bogeys. The 2021 US Women’s Open winner opened and ended this side with gained shots, but two bogeys — one in either Nos. 11 and 16 — negated them. Nonetheless, another birdie in No. 14 found herself ending with another 1-over 73 for the day.
It is an interesting battle for the win as not just two, but four golfers share the pole position. Saso’s US Open runner-up Nasa Hataoka led the assault with an 8-under 64 for the day, with Ko Jin-Young, Nelly Korda, and Celine Boutier sharing the lead with 14-under overall.
Saso, meanwhile, will try to end her first season in the tour on a high as she takes the course one last time starting at 9:47 a.m. (8:47 p.m.) from No. 10.
