By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Yuka Saso fired a 6-under-par 66 and jumped to joint fifth while Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan struggled halfway through the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday, Sept. 8.
Coming off an opening-round 69, Saso blasted seven birdies against a bogey on the 13th for a two-round total of 135, 5 shots off Taiwanese Chien Peiyun who shot an eagle-aided 8-under 64 to grab the lead at 130.
Chien, who started one shot behind overnight leader Liu Ruixin, caught fire with a bogey-free round highlighted by six birdies and an eagle 2 on the sixth.
Meanwhile, Ardina lost her hot touch with a 2-over 74 and skied from a share of second to joint 27th.
Starting at the back nine, Ardina managed two birdies against one bogey before faltering in the last nine holes with a double bogey on No. 1 and another bogey on the sixth.
She had a 140 aggregate to tie with eight others.
Pagdanganan, for her part, missed the cut by one after posting a 71 for 144.
