There's still lot of work to be done for Philippine golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina in the next three rounds of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
It was a tale of two finishes between Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina in their first taste of action in Paris 2024.
Pagdanganan banked on a strong showing in the back nine, while Ardina blew hot and cold in the final nine holes. The two Filipinas capped off the opening round of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women’s individual stroke play in contrasting styles at the Le Golf National on August 7, Wednesday (PH Time).
The returning Pagdanganan bucked three bogeys early in the front nine with three birdies and six pars in her last nine holes, lurking just outside of the top 10 of the leaderboard with an even-par 72 score.
That is good for joint 13th place, which she shared with 12 other golfers--including reigning Olympic champion and world no. 1 Nelly Korda and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand.
Seeded as no. 36 in the event, Pagdanganan opened her campaign with three-straight pars before stumbling to three bogies in the next four holes. The 26-year-old added another pair of pars to tally 3-over 39 heading to the back nine.
Ardina, meanwhile, earned a 4-over 76 score, tying five other golfers in the 40th spot with four bogeys and a double bogey in the front and back nine proving costly in her opening-day campaign.
Local bet Celine Boutier emerged as the early leader, taking three-shot lead over second-running Ashleigh Buhai (4-under 68) of South Africa thanks to her splendid start with a -7 under 65 score, including five birdies in the back nine.
Gaby Lopez of Mexico, Morgane Metraux of Switzerland, Mariajo Uribe of Colombia, and Lilia Vu of USA are tied in the third spot, trailing by five shots followed by six players in joint seventh who are six shots back of Boutier.
Two-time US Open champion Yuka Saso, who is now representing Japan after playing for the Philippines in Tokyo 2020, could not overcome an early double-bogey in the 7th hole for a measly 5-over 77 outing and is tied with the three others in the 46th spot.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson scored the first and only eagle so far in the tournament when she slotted in on the par-5, 18th hole to finish in joint 30th alongside six other golfers.
The second round of the event will continue tomorrow, August 8, Thursday.