Pagdanganan poised for Sunday charge after resilient 68
MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan shrugged off a shaky start with a composed recovery and a flurry of birdies, firing a three-under 68 on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) to move within two strokes of the lead and emerge as a serious title contender in the weather-shortened Greater Toledo Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.
With hazardous air quality forcing the cancellation of Friday's opening round, the 54-hole Epson Tour event was reduced to a 36-hole shootout, placing even greater premium on every shot heading into Sunday's final round at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Pagdanganan wasted little time putting an opening stumble behind her. After back-to-back bogeys to start her round, the ICTSI-backed shotmaker quickly regained her rhythm by birdieing the next two holes before adding another pair of consecutive birdies from No. 6 to erase the early damage and thrust herself into contention.
Although she failed to capitalize on several makeable birdie opportunities, Pagdanganan relied on her trademark power game to finish strongly, overpowering the closing par-5 18th for a birdie and a 68 built around a 32-36 card on the club's 35-37 layout.
The round left Pagdanganan tied for seventh at three-under, just two shots behind co-leaders Juliana Hung, Annabelle Pancake-Webb and Gile Bite Starkute, who matched 66s. With only 18 holes remaining, the Filipina will have every opportunity to challenge for the championship.
ICTSI teammate Dottie Ardina also kept herself firmly in the title picture after producing a stirring back-nine rally. The Olympian birdied Nos. 10, 11 and 17 to transform a one-over round into a two-under 69, earning a share of 12th place, only three strokes off the lead.
Clariss Guce likewise stayed within striking distance despite a roller-coaster round of one-under 70. She mixed four birdies against three bogeys, including three birdies over her final four holes to salvage an encouraging finish.
Three other Filipinas, however, failed to advance after the cut was set at 72.
Sam Bruce narrowly missed out after closing with consecutive bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 for a one-over 73.
Pauline del Rosario was unable to take advantage of an early tee time, stumbling with a double bogey on No. 10 — her opening hole — and ending up with a 75, while Tomi Arejola hobbled with a 76 to also bow out of the tournament.
The shortened format sets the stage for an aggressive final-round battle, with Pagdanganan well-positioned to unleash her length off the tee in pursuit of her first Epson Tour title.
Ardina likewise stayed firmly in the hunt for her second career championship on the LPGA’s developmental tour.
- Latest
- Trending
