Pagdanganan-Dy gains 1-shot lead

MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan sizzled at the finish to save an even-par 68 while Jed Dy blew a hot start and hobbled with a 72 as they put in a 140 in aggregate play to snatch a one-stroke lead over Jet Hernandez and Josh Jorge on the second day of the National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in QC.

Pagdanganan, a bronze medalist and member of the gold medal team in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta, found her rhythm and touch at the back, recovering from a two-over 37 with a 31 to cushion the impact of Dy’s shaky windup of 38 after a one-under card at the front of the par 35-33 layout.

Pagdanganan and Dy, who combined for a 63 in four-ball Thursday, thus assembled a 203 total, one shot ahead of Hernandez (70) and Jorge (73), who turned in a 143 for a 204 in Group I play of the event serving as part of the field’s buildup for the 2019 Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship slated Jan. 3-6 at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

Sean Ramos and Gabby Macalaguim squandered a remarkable frontside game with a faltering finish with the former ending up with a 70 and the latter winding up with a 71 in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation. Ramos had a 33 while Macalaguim carded a 36 as they pressed their bid after nine holes but both stumbled with 37 and 35, respectively, at the back and settled for joint third.

But with a 141, they stayed in the title hunt at 206 in a tie with Ryan Monsalve, who also made a 70, and Lanz Uy, who shot a 72, for a 142 in the event held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour and backed by Cignal and Metro Pacific.

Last year’s winner Don Petil and new partner JR Salahug, Paqo Barro and Jeff Jung, and Kristine Torralba and Santino Laurel fell seven shots off the pace with 210s, virtually leaving the chase for top honors to the four teams heading to the deciding two-ball foursomes or alternate shot format today.