Saso struggles, trails by 9 shots

MANILA, Philippines — After a hot opening 66, Yuka Saso struggled with a one-over 73 Friday to find herself trailing the leader by nine strokes at the halfway point of the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.

Saso, who was down by just two after the first 18 holes, mixed five birdies with a double bogey and four bogeys as she settled for a 37-36 round and slipped to joint 29th from a share of sixth.

At five-under 139, the Filipino-Japanese star had a lot of catching up to do against the smooth-running lead pack led by Celine Boutier of France.

Boutier gunned down eight birdies against a lone bogey to card a 65 for a 36-hole card of 130 and seize a four-shot margin against Australian Minjee Lee (68), Mexican Gaby Lopez (68) and American Mina Harigae (69).

The 20-year-old Saso averaged 304 yards off the tee and hit 12 of 14 fairways but reached only 11 of 18 greens.

She had a roller-coaster front where she birdied Nos. 1, 6 and 8, had back-to-back bogeys on 3 and 4 and dropped two shots on the par-4 7th.

The reigning US Women’s Open champion Saso was recognized as a Rolex First-Time Winner on the LPGA Tour during the Rolex LPGA Awards.