Ardina, Pagdanganan start strong in Arkansas

MANILA, Philippines —  Paris Olympian Dottie Ardina sizzled with a six-under 65 to put herself in contention at the start of the NW Arkansas Championship Friday in Rogers, Arizona.

Ardina gunned down six birdies against a lone bogey to stand just two strokes off leader Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand (63) in the three-day event.

The 30-year-old Ardina shared sixth spot with China’s Yu Liu, one behind the second-running group of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, South Africa’s Ashley Buhai, Mexico’s Maria Passi, China’s Liqi Seng and Colombian amateur Maria Marin who shot 64s.

Paris Olympics fourth-placer Bianca Pagdanganan opened with a 69 on three birdies against a bogey to tie for 42nd with 19 others.

It was a struggle for Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso, though, as the two-time US Women’s Open queen fumbled with a birdie-less 75 that jeopardized her bid to make the cut.

Meanwhile, Pinay teen ace Rianne Malixi slowed down with a one-over 73 in the second round to drop to a tie for 26th in the Hana Financial Group Championship in Korea.

Malixi had a first-round 69.