Dottie, Bianca gear up for Paris

MANILA, Philippines —  Golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan will continue building up in the LPGA Tour before linking up with Philippine teammates who are already camped in Paris for their Olympic duties.

Olympic debutant Ardina and Tokyo Games veteran Pagdanganan will see action in the prestigious CPKC Women’s Open in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from July 25 to 28  even as fellow Olympians fly the country’s colors in the early days of the 2024 showpiece in France.

The $2.6 million event, with its tough roster, should serve as a good workout for the duo ahead of the Paris Olympiad’s women’s golf competition which is slated Aug. 7 to 10 at the Le Golf National.

Six winners in the 2024 season of the LPGA Tour – Hannah Green (HSBC Women’s World Championship and JM Eagle LA Championship), Lydia Ko (Tournament of Champions), Bailey Tardy (Blue Bay LPGA), Lilia Vu (Meijer LPGA Classic), Chanettee Wannasaen (Dana Open) and Rose Zhang (Cognizant Founders Cup) – are in Canada.

Like the Filipinas, New Zealand’s Ko, Australia’s Green and the US’ Zhang will also head to the French capital later on. Ditto three other competitors in the Canada event, local favorite Brooke Henderson, Chinese Taipei’s Peiyun Chen and China’s Xiyu Lin.

Ardina, fresh from her new LPGA high joint seventh place in last week’s Dana Open in Ohio, will start her bid on Thursday (Friday in Manila) alongside Isabelle Fierro and Lauren Hartlage. Pagdanganan will tee off on No. 10 with Amanda Doherty and Hyo Joo Jang.

The Paris Games will see the 30-year-old Ardina finally making her delayed Olympic appearance after previously qualifying but withdrawing from the 2016 edition in Brazil. Pagdanganan is on her second Olympiad after playing in Tokyo together with then Philippine representative Yuka Saso and finishing 43rd.