Yuka Saso missed the cut at the AIG Women’s Open after a roller-coaster two-over par 73 at the Muerfield in East Lothian, Scotland Friday.
It marked the fifth time in her last eight outings that Saso failed to make the weekend.
The 21-year-old Filipino-Japanese hit only 4 of 14 fairways and 9 of 18 greens and made 30 putts as she completed 36 holes on 6-over 148, two shots outside the cut line.
Korean In Gee Chun was the halfway leader on 8-under 134, a stroke ahead of Ashleigh Buhai and Madelene Sagstrom who shot identical 65s.
Since finishing in the top 10 in her first two starts this season, Saso’s performance has dipped, her best showing was a pair of joint 12th in the Honda LPGA Thailand and Cognizant Founders Cup.
She has six missed cuts, including four in majors and slid to 26th in the world rankings after a high of fifth.
Chun is setting her sights on a second major of the season.
On eight under par, Chun led by a shot from South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who both shot 65, and by two from seven-time major winner, Park In-bee (67).
Chun had six birdies and a bogey and made a great par at the last. She drove into a bunker but hit her third to five feet to snatch the halfway lead.
“Links golf is all about manufacturing a score,” said the 27-year-old, who won this season’s Women’s PGA Championship – her third major following wins at the 2015 US Women’s Open and 2016 Evian Championship.
“This has already been a good season. I was so pleased to win my third major and now I have another chance. My goal tomorrow is to have a bogey free round.”
Buhai looked set to join Chun at the top after covering 17 holes in a flawless seven under par, but she dropped her only shot of the day at the 18th after finding a bunker with her second shot.
In the end, she had to hole a tricky five footer for bogey.
“I was disappointed to finish with a dropped shot, but I am super chuffed with the round,” said the 33-year-old, who won the first of three South African Amateur Championships when she was just 14.
“I was very patient and am extremely pleased to be in this position.”
“Links golf is all about thinking you’re way round. I love it here. The British Open is always my favorite event of the year.”
Buhai led at halfway in the same event at Woburn three years ago before going on to finish fifth.
Sagstrom finished joint second at Carnoustie a year ago, and she has grown to love links golf.
“I first came over for British Amateur Championships and it was hate at first sight,” she admitted.
“It’s taken me a while, but at last I seem to have figured it out. The funny bounces, taking the good with the bad.”
Park knows all about winning majors.
The former world number one has seven to her name, but none since the 2015 Women’s Open at Turnberry.
At 34, the Korean knows that retirement is not too far away.
“I think winning here would be a very good way say farewell,” she admitted.
“But I still think I’ve got some good golf left in me. It’s definitely one of my dreams to win it again.”
The cut fell on three over par and two major casualties were defending champion Anna Nordqvist, who shot 72 for four over, and Korea’s world number one Ko Jin-young, who had a 71 for five over.
But a dangerous threat lurking on four under and in a tie for seventh is the world number two and reigning US Women’s Open Champion, Minjee Lee.
