Philippines’ Yuka Saso watches her drive from the 4th tee in round 2 of the womens 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—With the women’s golf competition reaching the halfway mark, Filipino golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso are still looking to improve their places after contrasting showings in round 2.
Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion, jumped from 47th in round 1 to 34th on Thursday after firing a 68 in the second round to fo even overall at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
“My run today was obviously better than yesterday,” said Saso told Inquirer Golf. “Last couple of holes, I hit a few good tee shots and some good putts. Hopefully I could keep this going for the next couple of days.”
Saso finished strong in the back nine hitting three birdies practically recovering from the shaky start where she bogeyed in hole 11.
Pagdanganan, meanwhile, dropped out of the too ten and fell into a tie for 27th at the halfway mark.
Philippines’ Bianca Pagdanganan prepares to tee off from the 11th tee in round 2 of the womens 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)
Her strong start in the front nine, which included birdies in holes 5 and 6, were practically negated when she bogeyed holes 8 and 9.
Pagdanganan, who’s still 2-under-par overall, then hit just one birdie in the back nine, hole 11, then bogeyed holes 13 and 18 for a 71 in round 2.
“I was hoping to go possibly go low and give myself a little push up the leaderboard,” said Pagdanganan. “But unfortunately I just couldn’t get things to click today, I mean I had a couple of good shots I just wasn’t able to make the putt. I think I was over reading most of my putts today and my speed was kinda off.”
“We still have two more rounds, I still have time to put myself in a good position and hopefully go low for the next rounds and move up that leaderboard.”
Pagdanganan will have a 6:30 am (Manila time) tee time in round 3 on Friday while Saso tees off at 6:59 am.