Yuka Saso Struggles in the 2nd Round at Le Golf National

US Women's Open winner Yuka Saso of Japan struggled for the second straight day on Thursday, August 8 to fail to move up the leaderboard after the second round of the women's golf tournament at the Paris Olympics.

Saso, who shot a 5-over 77 in the first round at Le Golf National, had a 74 on Thursday to finish the day 15 strokes back of clubhouse leader Morgane Metraux of Switzerland. 

In Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, Saso started her round off with a bogey on the par-4 first hole. Her first birdie of the day didn't come until the par-4 No 5.

Any chance of a move up the leaderboard was quashed with a triple bogey on the par-4 12th hole.

Entering the third round, Saso is tied for 47th place at 7-over 151. She is, however, determined to do better in the upcoming rounds.

"I have only two days left, so I will do my best to adjust well," Saso told reporters.

Saso, born in the Philippines to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother, won her second US Women's Open title in June. She's the first Japanese to clinch two major overseas titles.

Yamashita is 5 Strokes Off the Pace

It was a better day for Japan's Miyuu Yamashita, who moved into contention after firing a 2-under-par 70 that featured five birdies against three bogeys.

Yamashita shot a 71 in the opening round. She's now tied for sixth at 3-under 141.

"In the second half [of the round], I played with the mindset of trying to improve by even one stroke," Yamashita said, according to Tokyo Sports. "My putter was not good today, but I think I was able to regroup [on the back nine]."

Switzerland's Metraux Atop the Golf Leaderboard

Metraux sizzled with a 6-under 66 that allowed her to finish her second round with a narrow lead. The Swiss player had two eagles on the front nine before cooling off with three bogeys after the turn.

China's Ruoning Yin carded a 7-under 65, the lowest score in the second round. At the midway point of the tourney, Yin is in second place, one shot adrift at 7-under 137. 

Defending Olympic champion Nelly Korda of the United States had an even-par 72 in the opening round.

On Thursday, Korda had four birdies on the front nine and added two more after the turn to wrap up the round at 2-under 70. That put her six shots off the pace at 2-under 142. Korda had a quadruple bogey on the par-3 16th hole. Sle closed out the round with a bogey and a birdie.

"Overall, I still shot under par. I'm going to try and take the positive," Korda said, according to Sports Illustrated. "If I would have done this on the last day or let's say the third day, then I would be extremely heartbroken."

She added, "But I still have 36 more holes and anything can happen."

Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who won the bronze in Tokyo, finished the second round just three strokes back of Metraux after a 5-under 67 that featured six birdies against a lone bogey on the final hole.

A total of 33 countries are represented in the 60-player field at the women's tournament.

RELATED:

• Hideki Matsuyama Claims Olympic Golf Bronze with a Final-Round 65
• EDITORIAL | Olympics Controversies No Reason to Defame Athletes, Judges
• Yuka Saso Wins US Women's Open for the 2nd Time
• Miyuu Yamashita Places 2nd in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.