Pinay golfers begin Olympic quest

PARIS – Bianca Pagdanganan is paired with Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux for the opening round, with the Filipina bet hopeful of a strong start in her second appearance in Olympic golf beginning Wednesday at Le Golf National, located outside of the French capital.

Meanwhile, another Philippine bet, Dottie Ardina, is with Finnish Noora Komulainen and Norwegian Madele Stavnar as Yuka Saso also competes in her second Olympics, but now carrying the Japanese flag.

Saso, a two-time US Open champ, waged a searing last-round chase and finished joint ninth last time while Pagdanganan limped to a 43rd-place windup in the competition ruled by American Nelly Korda, winning by one over Japanese Mone Inami and Kiwi Lydia Ko.

Power ranking for the 2024 Games has Korda at No. 1 followed by American Lilia Vu, Thai Patty Tavatanakit, another American Rose Zhang and Canada’s Brooke Henderson in the Top Five.

Pagdanganan and Ardina are nowhere near, but competition is seen as a wide-open battle especially with most of the competitors in the field of 60 making their first start at Le Golf National.

National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general Bones Floro said the lady golfers are in high spirits and pumped up especially from the historic performance of gymnast Carlos Yulo.

“We hope to contribute to our country’s success this week,” said Floro.

“(Yulo’s performance) is going to be a huge motivation for us. It’s a nice little push for us to continue playing well and the dream of having a podium finish would be amazing,” said Pagdanganan.

Technically, Ardina said they’re playing in a beautiful, tough course that requires precision shots.

“There is a need for good placements in all the holes and you really have to be ready to recover from the most difficult situations in the rough,” said Ardina, happy to be back after waiving off her stint in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 due to the Zika Virus scare.

“I would like to make the most of (my eventual participation in the Games). It’s a dream come true,” she said.

Pagdangangan plays with caddy Brandon Jackson while Ardina with Jay Davey.

Thirty-three countries are represented with two having three athletes competing. Korda, Vu and Zhang for the US and 15-time LPGA Tour champion Jin Young Ko, 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner Amy Yang and major champion Hyo Joo Kim for Korea.