Contrasting starts for Pagdanganan, Saso

Filipinas Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso found themselves on the opposite ends of the women’s individual golf leaderboard after the first round of the four-round event.

Pagdanganan got off to a strong start with a two-under par 69 as she tallied five birdies.

Saso, on the other hand, wrapped up the first round with a three-over par 74 after registering five bogeys.

(READ: Bianca Pagdanganan opens Tokyo Olympics golf at joint 7th, Yuka Saso falls to 47th)

Preview

The last two Filipino athletes who have not seen action in the Tokyo Olympics finally take center stage on Wednesday, August 4.

Golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan both look to add to the Philippines’ medal haul as they start their four-round campaign in the women’s individual golf event at 6:30 am.

Saso, the reigning Asian Games champion, is pegged as a strong medal bet following her historic title run in the US Women’s Open, becoming the first Filipino to win the tournament at just 19 years old.

The Filipina-Japanese qualified for the Olympics as the world No. 8.

Pagdanganan, meanwhile, is also an Asian Games gold medalist in the team event and bagged the individual gold in the recent Southeast Asian Games.

A champion in NCAA Division 1 with the Arizona Wildcats, Pagdanganan competes as a pro in the LPGA Tour, where her best finish of ninth place came in the Women’s PGA Championship.

(READ: Tokyo Olympics: Meet Team Philippines)

– Rappler.com