BIANCA Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina overcame windy and chilly conditions yesterday (Saturday in the US) to score 70 and 69, respectively, and were poised to score respectable finishes anew with a round left in the Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America at the Old American Golf Club at The Colony, Texas.
Barely able to keep her putting under control, Pagdanganan had a roller-coaster round featuring five birdies against four bogeys for her third 70 in a row and a five-way tie for eighth place over the par-71, 6,475-yard layout.
After shooting 72 and 70, respectively, in the first two rounds, Ardina improved slightly with a 69 and was one shot off her compatriot in a share of 13th spot with five others in the 72-hole tournament offering a top prize of $270,000 (around P15.2 million).
South Korean Kim Hyoo-joo checked in with a 70 for a three-round tally of 202, retaining a five-shot lead over Australian Sarah Kemp and American veteran Lexi Thompaon, who were tied for second place after carding and 69 and 71, respectively.
Known for her long-hitting prowess, Pagdanganan completed the front nine with a one-over 36 and seemed to have finally settled down when she birdied three of the first four holes coming home, only to go bogey, birdie, bogey on hole Nos. 14 to 16 before scoring a par on the last two holes. — Bong Pedralvez
