Bianca Pagdanganan moves into medal contention after a 69

August 9 ------ BIANCA Pagdanganan put herself in a position for a podium finish heading into moving day of the Paris Olympics women’s golf competitions at the Le Golf National. Pagdanganan shot a 69 in the second round for a 141 total and a share of sixth with five other golfers - well within reach of a medal for the Philippines in the final few days of the 2024 Olympics. 

The LPGA campaigner will shoot to join two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo and bronze winners Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas in the country’s coffers in the final two rounds of the women’s individual stroke play. The Filipina golfer is only five shots off leader Morgane Metraux of Sweden, who had a 66 for an eight-under par 136 total, and two shots behind third placer Lydia Ko of New Zealand (139) heading ito the third round on Friday. 

Yin Ruoning of China scored a day's best 65 for solo second with a 137 while Mariajo Uribe of Colombia and Pia Babnik of Slovenia are in joint fourth at 140. Playing in her second Olympics, Pagdanganan had three birdies in the final five holes including one on the par-5 18th that she also birdied in the first round even after taking a penalty drop. Pagdanganan actually had five birdies on the day including at the second hole to make up for an opening bogey. 

Metraux appeared to have a comfortable leading heading to the clubhouse but shot a double bogey in the final hole, trimming her lead against Pagdangangan and the rest of the field entering the third round. Pagdanganan’s ranking actually rose after two-time major champion Nelly Korda dropped to a share of 12th with a 142, no thanks to a quadruple bogey on the 16th. Dottie Ardina is in a share of No. 40 with a 148 after an even-par second round. Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso is at joint 47th with a two-day total of 151. 

Source: spin.ph