Gonzaga University
NCAA Regionals Day 2
Pagdanganan Goes Low Again
5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
BRYAN, Texas--After another round below 70 Friday, Gonzaga's Bianca Pagdanganan remains near the top of the leaderboard at the NCAA's Bryan Regional, held at Traditions Golf Club.
The freshman shot 69 (-3) during the tournament's second round for a two-day total of 136 (-8). She started out the day with two straight birdies, taking a three-shot lead on the field early and holding it through the rest of the front nine. Pagdanganan added another birdie on No. 8, making the turn at 3-under-par 33. On the back, she tallied two more birdies, a couple of bogeys, and five more pars to clinch her fourth round below 70 of the season.
"Another great round today," said Gonzaga women's golf head coach Brad Rickel. "She had a great start with two birdies on the first two holes but did have to fight harder today. We missed some greens in bad spots and she had some amazing up-and-downs. We're really happy with her mood and how she is working her way around the course."
A native of Quezon City, Philippines, Pagdanganan smashed the program's lowest two-round tally, which was previously 139 (-5), set by Alice Kim at the 2013 UC Irvine Invitational. It's Pagdanganan's lowest 36-hole score by six strokes.
Pagdanganan is second in the tournament after UCLA's Bronte Law used a 6-under-par 66 to take the individual lead. Law, the top-ranked player in the nation according to GolfStat, is one stroke ahead of Pagdanganan, and the Zag is one stroke ahead of third-place Jillian Hollis of Georgia.
The top six teams in Bryan will earn a spot in the NCAA Championships held in Eugene, Ore., May 21-25, while the top three individuals not already on an advancing team will punch their ticket to Eugene as well. That third individual is currently Louisville's Olivia Cason, who's four strokes under par for the tournament.
Arizona leads the team competition at 9-under-par 567, while UCLA, Georgia, Furman, Texas, and Miami are also currently in advancing positions.
Pagdanganan will look to close out the NCAA Regionals and earn a berth to the NCAA Championships on Saturday, May 7. She'll tee off with the regional's other individuals at 6:50 a.m. Pacific (8:50 Central), again at Traditions GC.
"Bianca feels good about her game and is looking forward to the final round," Rickel said. "Tomorrow we have to continue to play our game and take what the course gives us."
