Hana Wakimoto maintains lead at Toto Japan Classic

Japan's Hana Wakimoto carded a 4-under-par 68 in Friday's second round to maintain her lead at the Toto Japan Classic in Shinga, Japan.

Wakimoto moved to 13-under-par and sits two strokes ahead of Yealimi Noh and Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn in the no-cut event at Seta Golf Course.

Wakimoto followed back-to-back birdies at the first two holes with nine consecutive pars before two more birdies at Nos. 12-13. After a bogey at the par-3 fourth hole -- her first of the tournament -- she finished the round with her fifth birdie at the par-5 18th.

"I feel comfortable with my tee shots on this course and I think my game is really fit to this course," said Wakimoto, who never lost the lead in the second round.

This is only Wakimoto's second career start in an LPGA Tour event. She missed the cut at the 2023 U.S. Women's Open. She has been a member of the JLPGA Tour since 2018.

Noh matched the lowest round of the day with a 7-under 65 that featured four consecutive birdies at Nos. 4-7. She also chipped in for birdie at the par-4 14th hole and completed her round with only 20 putts.

"For me, last year, I was really struggling with my putting and I just needed something new and something completely different," Noh said. "I never even thought of trying it but my coach and my dad suggested it to me and I tried it. It helped me get over that uneasy feeling over the ball. So, that's how it started and now using it a year after, my stroke has gotten really solid and my speed is great with the putter so it has helped me a lot."

Jutanugarn shot 66 on Friday and is one of three players who has yet to record a birdie, along with Japan's Yuka Saso and Saiki Fujita. Fujita (66 on Friday) is in a three-way tie for fifth place at 9-under and Saso (67) is part of a nine-player contingent tied for eighth at 8-under.

Japan's Rio Takeda is in solo fourth at 10-under after posting a 65, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 13th hole.

Marina Alex (67) and South Korea's Jin Young Ko (70) are tied for fifth place with Fujita.

This is the fourth and final stop on the LPGA Tour's four-event fall Asia swing. The 78-player field for the co-sponsored event includes 35 JLPGA members.

--Field Level Media