By JEREMIAH SEVILLA
Yuka Saso missed the cut of the first LPGA of Japan Tour event this year as she struggled for form in the 2021 Daikin Orchid Ladies Tournament at the Ryukyu Golf Club in Okinawa on Friday.
For the second straight day, Saso produced another one-over-par 72 for a 146 total and missed the mark by one as she wound up in a 9-way tie at No. 63 in the 108-player field.
Saso, who emerged as the top money earner in the 2020-21 JLPGA Tour after collecting over P42 million after winning two events, had a rough start as she bogeyed par-4 second hole.
The 2018 Asian Games double gold medalist bounced back as she gunned down a birdie in the fifth hole but bogeyed again in the eighth before closing out the front nine.
Saso birdied the 11th and 13th holes but bogeyed the 16th and 18th that all but flushed her efforts down the drain.
Haruka Morita hit six-under 72 in the second round for 134, forging a tie heading to the last stretch with early leader Mao Saigo who shot a brilliant eight-under in the opening round.
Saso will look to bounce back in the 2021 Meiji Yasuda Insurance Ladies Yokohama Tire Golf Tournament slated March 12-14 at the Tosa Country Club in the Kochi Prefecture.
