Pagdanganan battles through tough Riviera test to grind out US Open weekend berth
MANILA, Philippines — True champions are defined not by how they play when everything goes right, but how they fight when everything goes wrong.
Facing a brutal golf course and a shifting tide of momentum, a fiercely resilient Bianca Pagdanganan displayed pure grit and spunk to card a three-over 74, safely securing her place for the weekend at the $12-million US Women’s Open on Saturday (Manila time).
Not even a bogey on her final hole could stymie the big-hitting Filipina’s resolve. Finishing with a two-over 144 aggregate, Pagdanganan advanced to the final 36 holes at joint 37th. Her fighting spirit proved to be her ultimate weapon as the daunting Riviera Country Club exacted a heavy toll on the field, sending the cutoff score soaring to a four-over 146 amid punishing afternoon conditions.
The ICTSI-backed ace had hoped to build on the momentum of a masterful opening-round 70. However, an early tee time brought immediate adversity. Starting her day on No. 10, Pagdanganan stumbled out of the gate with a double-bogey, followed by dropped strokes on the 14th and 15th.
Many would have unraveled, but Pagdanganan dug deep. Refusing to let her spirit dampen, she answered with the heart of a lion, firing clutch, back-to-back birdies from No. 16 to breathe life back into her campaign.
Another birdie on the fourth hole put her firmly back on track. While slight miscalculations led to late mishaps on the fifth and ninth for a 38-36 card, her ability to weather the early storm ultimately punched her ticket to the weekend.
With 68 players advancing, Pagdanganan now stands as the lone standard-bearer for the Philippines – and she possesses the exact arsenal needed for a dramatic weekend surge.
Known as one of the tour's premier power hitters, Riviera’s demanding layout plays right into her hands if she can harness her distance off the tee. Combined with the poise and emotional maturity she displayed on Friday, Pagdanganan has the rare ability to turn a deficit into a chase.
If her putter catches fire on Moving Day, her explosive game and fearless mindset could easily trigger a rapid ascent up the leaderboard.
Saso, Del Rosario miss cut
Unfortunately, Pagdanganan's ICTSI teammates Yuka Saso and Pauline del Rosario could not find the same escape hatch, failing to recover from their first-round struggles.
Saso’s early exit marked her fourth consecutive setback, underlining a perplexing slump for the Fil-Japanese star, who missed the cut for the second straight year in the marquee tournament she twice ruled.
After an error-marred opening 77, Saso showed a flash of brilliance with a birdie on the first hole. However, a roller-coaster ride of inconsistency followed. She traded bogeys and birdies on the front nine for an even-par 35, but fell apart on the backside with bogeys on Nos. 10, 12 and 18 to finish with a 74 and a 151 aggregate.
Meanwhile, del Rosario savored every moment of her breakthrough major appearance. Despite missing the cut with a 154 total, she walks away with invaluable lessons to fuel her upcoming Epson Tour campaign.
Following an opening 78, del Rosario showed immense pride, rebounding from early bogeys on Nos. 2 and 3 to string together a run of pars, highlighted by a birdie on the par-5 11th. Riviera eventually wore her down, forcing a 37-39 finish, but the experience marks a significant milestone in her rising career.
As Pagdanganan prepares for her weekend charge, she will have to chase down co-leaders Allison Lee and Ruoning Yin, who sit tied at the top at 138 after 68 and 69, respectively. A crowded leaderboard looms just behind them, featuring world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who vaulted into contention with a stellar 67 to sit just two strokes off the pace at 140.
With a leaderboard packed with world-class talent, the stage is set for an unpredictable weekend battle of wits and nerves – and a relentless Pagdanganan is ready to unleash her power.
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