Saso stays in contention

Yuka Saso birdied three of four par-5 holes, including the 18th to shoot a four-under-par 68 and stay in the title hunt halfway through the Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand Friday.

The 20-year-old Filipino-Japanese sits on 9-under 135 for a tie for the eighth spot, just three shots behind Thai Natthakritta Vongtaveelap.

Saso reached the turn on 2-under following birdies on 1 and 7 and gained another stroke on 11. She bogeyed 12, birdied 13 and 15, and dropped a shot on 17 before closing with a birdie.

She joined a big group also made up of Pornanong Phatlum, Jodi Stewart Shadoff, Georgia Hall, Leona Maguire, Frida Kinhult, and Anna Nordqvist.

Vongtaveelap collected eight birdies against one bogey to take a one-shot lead over Maja Stark.

American Nelly Korda was one of five players sharing third on 10-under. The others were Celine Boutier, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Jenny Shin and Jaravee Boonchant.