Filipina teen golf sensation Yuka Saso hit a 71 at the halfway mark of the ANA Inspiration tournament in Rancho Mirage, California on Friday, April 2 (Saturday, April 3, Manila time).

After scoring 69 in the opening round of the LPGA’s first major, Saso fell to a joint 12th place finish at 4-under-140, but aims to rebound in the last two rounds.

Though the Filipino-Japanese made birdies in No. 2, No. 4 and No. 10, she struggled to sustain her strong performance when she bogeyed No. 3, No. 13 and No. 18.

Filipina Bianca Pagdanganan, on the other hand, did not make the cut to advance with a 75 in the opener and a 73 in the 2nd round.

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit maintained her lead Friday, staying up by one stroke after recording an eagle while shooting a 3-under-par 69 at the Mission Hills Country Club’s Dinah Shore Tournament Course.

She now sits at -9 overall, one stroke ahead of China’s Shanshan Feng, who also carded a 69.

Saso was awarded the 2020 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year honors last Sunday, March 28.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 19-year-old golfer turned pro in 2020 and bagged two straight titles in the Japan LPGA and landed a 13th place finish in her first LPGA major championship in the US Open last December. 

Saso was impressive as a rookie as she entered 2021 ranked 45th in the world and topped the money ranking with earnings amounting to P50 million during her pro debut season. – Rappler.com