Yuka Saso leaned on her ever-reliable putter to salvage a one-under-par 70 and make the cut in The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Championship in The Colony, Texas Friday.
The 20-year-old Filipino-Japanese struggled with her approach shots, hitting only seven greens in regulation but needed only 24 putts to keep her score from blowing up.
She had three birdies, all on par-3 holes, against two bogeys.
On 1-over 143, Saso sits on a share of 40th place, joining a big group that includes Japanese Nasa Hataoka and American Danielle Kang.
Bianca Pagdanganan, the other Filipina in the cast, bowed out after a second consecutive 75.
The 24-year-old had a bad start, making three bogeys and a double bogey against a lone birdie at the back nine before she made the inward trip on even par.
Meanwhile, Charley Hull maintained her blistering recent form to surge into a two-shot lead Friday at the halfway.
English star Hull fired a seven-under-par 64 — the lowest round of the tournament so far — to move to 11 under after 36 holes at The Colony, Texas.
Teeing off on the back nine, Hull picked up three birdies before the turn and then added five more down the stretch to take the lead.
The 26-year-old is chasing her second LPGA Tour victory after her maiden win at the 2016 Tour Championship.
Friday’s 64 was Hull’s fifth straight round in the 60s. She finished tied for fifth at last week’s NW Arkansas Championship.
Hull credits her recent resurgence with her decision to take a two-week break from the tour after back-to-back missed cuts at the CP Women’s Open and Dana Open.
Hull used that time to recharge and play golf with her friends.
“I played about four or five rounds of 36 holes when I was home,” Hull said.
“I’m just one of those people. I actually prefer playing golf at home with my mates than I do on tour.”
“I feel like when I’m on the golf course now, I pretend I’m at home with my friends and be more relaxed. That’s what I’m doing and it seems to be working.”
Hull is two shots clear of Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul and China’s Lin Xiyu.
The 19-year-old Thitikul, seeking her second straight win after her victory in Arkansas last weekend, shot a four-under-par 67.
First round leader Lin meanwhile posted a 68.
Lindy Duncan of the United States is three off the lead on eight under after a bogey-free 65, one clear of Jessica Korda, Emily Pedersen and Moriya Jutanugarn, who are four off the lead on seven under.