Pagdanganan holds ground

MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan matched par anew to stay within sniffing distance of the leaders at the midway mark of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Friday in Sammamish, Washington.

Pagdanganan shot a closing birdie on No. 9 to salvage a 72 after a rollercoaster round to assemble a 36-hole tally of 144 and climb to joint 18th from a share of 22nd.

The power-hitting Pinay faces a six-shot deficit against American Sarah Schmelzel (67) and Korean Amy Yang (68), who wrested control at 138 after firing 67 and 68, respectively.

Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso continued to struggle but her 75 after an initial 74 turned out to be just enough to meet the five-over 149 cutoff for the weekend play at the Sahalee Country Club.

Dottie Ardina wasn’t as fortunate as her 78 that followed a 75 sent her out of the championship rounds of the prestigious major. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who had an 81 after a 69, joined Ardina (153) in the exits with her 150.