Saso rallies to within 4; Bianca, Dottie make cut

MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso climbed to a share of ninth place while compatriots Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina bounced back and made the cut in the LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Saturday at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.

Saso, the reigning US Open queen, fired a bogey-free six-under-par 65 to crack the Top 10 of the 54-hole tournament after sharing 44th place with her opening 69.

Also making big moves were Pagdanganan, who shot an eagle-spiked 65, and Ardina, who carded a 69, as they secured their places in the final day of the $2.3-million tourney.

Eight-under after two rounds, the 20-year-old Saso stood four shots behind co-leaders Minjee Lee of Australia and Nasa Hataoka of Japan.

Lee sizzled with a bogey-free 63 while Hataoka submitted a 65 laced by a second consecutive ace on the par-3 sixth hole to wrest the lead at 12-under 130.

First-round co-pacesetter Eun-Hee Ji (68) slipped to third at 131 followed by Jeongeun Lee6 (63) and Ariya Jutanugarn (66) at 132 and Jennifer Kupcho (66), Pajaree Anannurakarn (68) and Sarah Burnham (69) at 133.

Saso gunned down six birdies in a solid round that saw her hit 11 of 13 fairways on a 287-yard average off the tee and reach 14 of 18 greens.

Pagdanganan likewise found her range after a 76 opener.

The power-hitting Pagdanganan struck an eagle on No. 7 to go with six birdies against two bogeys to reach the cutoff of 141 along with Ardina and jump to 66th from 135th.

Ardina, who opened with a one-over 72, improved with a two-under card highlighted by three birdies versus a lone bogey.