Philippines’ Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan in round 2 of the women’s golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 5, 2021. (Photo by YOSHI IWAMOTO / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines–Yuka Saso fired a 68 to crawl up the standings while Bianca Pagdanganan stayed at two-under for the tournament and watched other contenders pass her by after the second round of the women’s golf competitions in the Tokyo Olympics at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Saso’s three-under moved her to a tie for 34th at even par for the tournament, 13 shots behind leader Nelly Korda of the United States.
Pagdanganan had an even-par round for the day, keeping her at two-under for the tournament, 11 shots off the lead.
But both Filipinos will need a lot of breaks going into Saturday, especially with a storm threatening to scrub off one round from the tournament.
Pagdanganan showed some life early with birdies at Nos. 5 and 6 but bogeys on 7 and 8 blunted her charge. She mixed bogeys with birdies the rest of the way for her 71.
After staying in the top 10 with the same aggregate in the first round, Pagdanganan dropped to a 27th place tie along with Perrine Delacour of France and Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland.
Saso is tied with Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, Slovenia’s Pia Babnik, and Canada’s Brooke Henderson. The reigning US Women’s Open champ could not get anything going early, and was further bogged down by a bogey on No. 5.
But she hit birdies on 6 and 8 and then strung up three more in the back nine to come alive.
The United States’ Nelly Korda led the table after round 2 at 13-under-par.