Saso rallies with late birdie binge to survive cut at The Annika

MANILA, Philippines -- Yuka Saso summoned a timely burst of brilliance down the stretch, turning a potentially disappointing exit into a much-needed weekend reprieve with a late three-birdie surge that salvaged a two-under 68 in Friday (Saturday Manila time)’s second round of The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in Belleair, Florida.

In danger of missing the cut for the 12th time this season, the ICTSI-backed two-time US Women’s Open champion found another gear when it mattered most, birdying Nos. 5, 6 and 7 to cap a remarkable late charge and secure her place in the weekend rounds.

The closing flourish lifted Saso to a two-day total of 139, placing her in a share of 59th and just inside the cut line at Pelican Golf Club.

It was a welcome turnaround for the Filipina, whose campaign has been largely defined by missed cuts and modest finishes. With only the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship remaining after this week's $3.25-million tournament, Saso is running out of opportunities to put a brighter finish on an otherwise forgettable season.

Her best result so far was a joint 12th-place finish at the AIG Women’s Open last July. She has missed 11 cuts, although her last two starts yielded relatively encouraging finishes of joint 34th at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and joint 43rd at the LOTTE Championship last month.

Friday's escape, however, was anything but assured.

Starting on the back nine, Saso stumbled with a bogey on No. 12, threatening to derail her bid for a second-round recovery after opening with a one-over 71. She then settled into a frustrating stretch of pars, with several birdie opportunities going begging, before finally breaking through with her decisive three-hole birdie binge from No. 5.

The run gave her a closing front-nine 32 and a two-under card at the par-70 layout, transforming what had looked like another missed-cut finish into a timely boost of confidence heading into the weekend.

Saso had also needed a late recovery in Thursday's opening round. After dropping shots on Nos. 2 and 8, she regrouped on the back nine, picking up birdies on Nos. 11 and 18 to save a 71 and keep her hopes of advancing alive.

While Saso had reason to celebrate her escape, the battle for the lead remained tightly contested.

Spain's Carlota Ciganda fired a fiery 63 to reach 128 and force a three-way tie for the lead with American Lindy Duncan and South Korea's Hye Jin Choi. Duncan carded a 66, while Choi turned in a 67.

Japan's Mao Saigo and Minami Katsu were two shots off the pace at 130 after shooting 65 and 69, respectively.

With two rounds remaining, Saso will be looking to build on her late-round momentum and turn her hard-earned passage into the weekend into a stronger finish in the penultimate tournament of the LPGA season.