MANILA – Filipina golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso have a contrasting start in the first round of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s individual stroke play on Wednesday at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Tokyo, Japan.
The 23-year-old Pagdanganan bucked the sweltering temperature, which reached as high as 37 degrees Celsius, with a heat index of 40 degrees as she kicked off the opening round with back-to-back birdies in the two initial holes. She then struck a birdie in the fifth hole to negate the previous hole’s bogey.
Pagdanganan had another bogey in the 11th hole before having two more birdies in the 14th and 16th holes to end the first round with a two-under par 69 for a tie at the seventh place.
Meanwhile, Filipina-Japanese Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion, has a rough start on day one of the tournament as she finished with a three-over 74 for 47th place.
The 20-year-old golfer had a steady opening as she went into the clubhouse with a one-over 37 but struggled in the back nine. Bogeys in the 11th, 16th, and 17th holes withered her hope to bounce back.
Meanwhile, Ernest John Obiena did not reach a podium finish in the men’s pole vault finals after failing to clear the bar at 5.8 meters thrice on Tuesday night at the Tokyo National Stadium.
Obiena easily cleared the 5.55 meters but committed two fouls before successfully clearing the 5.70 meters.
Obiena, who has a personal best record of 5.87 meters, fumbled on his three attempts in the 5.80-meter mark to kiss his Olympic medal hopes goodbye./PN
