Saso fades with 73; Hara in front

MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso kept the momentum of her late second-round charge but in a fleeting moment slipped with a 73 and bowed out of a major championship race for the second straight time.

The young Fil-Japanese, who got back into the thick of things with a birdie-eagle feat for a 70 Friday, birdied the opening par-5 No. 1, sparking hopes for a third-round surge for the NEC Karuizawa and Nitori Ladies winner.

But after a slew of pars, the ICTSI-backed bet tumbled with bogeys on Nos. 7 and 9. She recovered with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12, only to yield them again with back-to-back bogeys from No. 14 for a 37-36 and a 54-hole haul of 216 for joint 25th.

That was 12 strokes off Erika Hara, whose incredible driving and near-flawless iron game and putting thrust her into the lead at 204 after a 66. The three-year pro moved 18 strokes away from nailing a major trophy after scoring her maiden victory in the Resort Trust Ladies via playoff in Shizuoka last year.

The 21-year-old Hara, whose best finish this season was tied for fifth at the Earth Mondahmin Cup, rattled off five birdies at the front, quickly overhauling a three-shot deficit to Sakura Koiwai.