August 8 ------ BIANCA Pagdanganan of the Philippines battled back from a cold start to shoot an even-par 72 at the start of the 2024 Olympic Games' women's golf competition at Le Golf National in Paris. The 26-year old LPGA campaigner struggling to a three-over card through 11 holes but somehow found her touch coming in, finding three birdies including an unlikely one at the last after being forced to take a penalty drop after her drive. Pagdanganan is playing in her second Olympics.
That level-par effort placed the Filipina at 12th place in a tie with 11 others including defending champion Nelly Korda of the US - a good sign for a Philippine team in search of another medal to add to gymnast Carlos Yulo's two gold medals. However, Pagdanganan still found herself with a lot of ground to make up as home bet Celine Boutier opened with a seven-under 65 - three shots up on South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai. The other Philippine bet, Dottie Ardina, opened with a four-over 76 in a round marred by a double-bogey at the par-4 15th hole and a bogey at the last.
At joint 41st, Ardina is still in a much better position that Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso, who skied to a 77 in her opening round. The two-time US Women's Open winner represented the Philippines in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.
Source: spin.ph
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