Nasa Hataoka fired a second-round 67 to position herself two shots behind a trio of leaders at the midway point of the 72-hole Pure Silk Championship on Friday.
At 7-under 135, Hataoka, who shot a bogey-free round, is tied for sixth place with two others. Americans Jacqui Concolino and Jennifer Song, and England’s Bronte Law sit atop a crowded leaderboard (9-under) at Kingsmill Resort.
Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom were a stroke back, while Harukyo Nomura is among the four players who share ninth place at 136 heading into the weekend.
On Friday, the 20-year-old Hataoka, who entered the second round in 10th, carded an eagle and two birdies. The world No. 5 finished runner-up in 2018, when she lost to Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand in a playoff.
"It was good I was able to play aggressively," said Hataoka, who hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
"I made a good par-saving putt (from seven feet away on the par-4 14th) and that allowed me to build momentum. I was really determined to make it (the eagle putt in No. 7) and I did," she said.
Nomura also finished with a 67 that featured an eagle, three birdies and one bogey, to back up her first-round 69.
