Bianca Pagdanganan, of the Philippines, hits her shot from the 3rd tee during the second round of the women’s golf event at the Paris Olympics 2024, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, at Le Golf National, in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
The Philippine medal machine in the 2024 Paris Olympics abruptly grounded to a halt in the last two days only for Bianca Pagdanganan to give it some life Thursday after shooting a three-under-par 69 to wheel into medal contention in women’s golf competition at Le Golf National.
The second-time Olympian again rebounded from an unsteady front nine, gunning down three birdies coming home for the second straight round for a 142 aggregate over the winding, water hazard-laden layout that put her into a momentary fifth place tie at posting time with half of the field yet to finish.
First round leader Celine Boutier of France was having her troubles through the first 14 holes, with Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux shooting a 66 to grab the temporary lead with a 136 aggregate.
READ: Bianca Pagdanganan fires 72 to stay in medal hunt for PH
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko was also having a hot round, working on a bogey-free six-under card through her first 14 holes with the getable 18th giving her a chance to maybe grab a share of the lead heading into the third round on Friday.
World No. 1 and defending gold medalist Nelly Korda of the United States was actually in a fifth place tie with Pagdanganan after eight holes of her second round.
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