SEA Games: Pagdanganan sets individual pace; women’s golf team leads by 3

Philippine women’s golf team. INQUIRER GOLF/ADRIAN FLORES

TARLAC—The Philippines’ Bianca Pagdanganan got off to a solid start Wednesday, shooting a two-under-par 70 to lead the women’s individual stroke play and boost the Filipinos to the women’s team lead in golf competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at Luisita Golf Club here.

The 22-year-old Asian Games individual bronze medalist and member of the champion team certainly lived up to the hype as one of the best players in the field, winning her first round showdown with top-ranked amateur Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, who struggled to a 75.

And counting Lois Kaye Go’s 73, the Filipinos tallied 143 for the day as the Thais totaled 146 with the 71 of Kan Bunnabodee leading their team.

Women’s team competition allows for three players to see action with only the top two scores counting. Team Philippines threw away the 79 of SEA Games rookie Abegail Arevalo.