Saso still in contention in ANA Inspiration, Bianca out

YUKA Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan have gone separate ways after the second round of the 2021 ANA Inspiration golf tournament at the Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage in California on Saturday (Philippine time).

Saso remained, while Pagdanganan bowed out of the competition.

Trailing leader Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand by five strokes, the 19-year-old Saso finished the day with a 1-under 71 or 4-under 140 overall.

To open the round, the Filipino Japanese golfer scored a birdie and another bogey at the second and third holes.

Ultimately, she ended the front nine with a three-shot take on No. 4 to end the side at 1-under 35 or 4-under overall.

Saso would have taken the par-4 in three strokes, but a 13th hole bogey canceled it out. Another birdie-bogey combo, which happened in the 15th and 18th holes, ended her day at 1-under 71.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Pagdanganan missed the cut as she racked up bogeys that negated her birdies.

The Filipina scored back-to-back birdies on No. 10 and No. 11 but also incurred two bogeys at the 13th and 14th.

Negating her two birdies at No. 18 and No. 4, a double bogey at the 17th spelled doom for Pagdanganan’s campaign.

Along with Saso and Lois Kaye Go, Pagdanganan won a gold medal in a golf team event in the 2018 Asian Games.

Saso, the 2020 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year, also won a gold medal individually at the same Asian Games.