Bianca, Dottie way off with 76

MANILA, Philippines — Paris Olympics-bound Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina got off to a fumbling start at the Dow Championship, posting a six-over 76 Thursday in Midland, Michigan.

Pagdanganan and Ardina, joining forces for the first time in the only official team competition in the LPGA schedule, stumbled with a pair of double bogeys and two bogeys on the first day of foursomes at the Midland Country Club as they found themselves way off the contenders.

Sitting in a share of 65th, the Pinay aces are 12 strokes off the leading 64s of American pair Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, Thai duo Jaravee Boonchart and Charetee Wannasaen and the Thai-Chinese combo of Atthaya Thitikul and Ruoning Yin.

Pagdanganan and Ardina must make a big move Friday when the $3-million event shifts to the four-ball play for the second round if they want to meet the projected cutoff score of one-under for the weekend play.