Leona Maguire narrowly made the cut at the Blue Bay LPGA despite a three-over 74 in the second round on Friday.
The Cavan native started the day five shots off the lead after Thursday's opening round on Hainan Island in China amid a disappointing start to the tournament at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course.
She endured further struggles on day two with double bogeys on both 10 and 11.
But birdies on six and 16 were enough to leave her just a single shot inside the cut mark on four over in a tie for 58th.
LEADERBOARD
Meanwhile, Nasa Hataoka carded a six-under-par 66 to overcome windy conditions on Friday and pull into a share of the lead with Cassie Porter.
Starting on the back nine, Hataoka recorded a birdie on five of her first six holes. The Japan native finished with seven birdies against one bogey to reside at seven under.
"Under this windy condition, I was trying to hit the control shot with irons, so I think it was good with good distance control," Hataoka said.
For Hataoka, it marked the first time that she held at least a share of a lead since the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship. She is a six-time winner on the JLPGA, including three Japan Women's Open Golf Championships (2016, 2017,2019).
Porter, of Australia, had five birdies against one bogey to finish with a 68 on Friday. She missed the cut at Founders Cup in her only other tournament in 2025.
Rio Takeda of Japan had an eagle on No. 14 and a birdie on No. 16 to finish with a 69 and sits one stroke back of the leaders and one ahead of both Gaby Lopez (70) of Mexico and Auston Kim (71), the first-round co-leader.
Additional reporting: Reuters
