Yuka Saso in joint 11th after first round of Shoprite LPGA Classic

Yuka Saso opened her campaign in the 2021 Shoprite LPGA Classic on a high note as she was just two strokes behind the leaders through the first round of the 54-hole tournament.

The Filipino-Japanese ace hit five birdies and a bogey on the 10th hole to wrap up the opener with a total of 4-under par 67 in New Jersey, USA on early Saturday (Manila time).

Saso, who represented the country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was joined by nine other golfers in 11th place with So Yeon Ryu of South Korea and Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England leading all players at top spot with 65.

Eight players, meanwhile, are in joint third spot with a 5-under 66.

Saso was fresh from her stint 2021 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship where she finished in fourth place and bagged a $104,506 in prize money.

Another Filipina bet in Bianca Pagdangan is also participating the tournament and placed in joint 29th through the first round where she fired a 2-under par 69.

Pagdanganan's campaign was hurt by three bogeys on the sixth, 13th, and 15th holes but she made up for it with five birdies.

—JMB, GMA News