MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan put up a brave stand to post the highest finish by a Filipino golfer in the Olympics, placing joint fourth at the conclusion of the Paris Games women’s individual stroke at Le Golf Nacional late Saturday night, August 10 (Manila time).
Pagdanganan, 26, carded 4-under 68 in the fourth and final round to go 6-under 282 overall, putting herself in contention for a shootout for a bronze medal.
Chinese Lin Xiyu Janet, however, birdied the 18th hole to go 3-under 69 in the round and 7-under 281 overall, shutting down the potential playoff for bronze and eventually completing the podium as the third placer.
Pagdanganan shot 72, 69, and 73 in the first, second, and third rounds, respectively.
In the final frame, Pagdanganan birdied the second, third, sixth, and eight holes against a bogey on the fourth for a strong front. She bogeyed the 10th and 13th holes but arrested it with a birdie on the 14th.
After back-to-back pars, Pagdanganan then finished strong with two straight birdies from the 17th.
The Gonzaga University and University of Arizona standout shared the fourth spot with Hannah Green of Australia, Amy Yang of South Korea, and Miyu Yamashita of Japan.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot 1-under 71 in the fourth and went 10-under 278 overall to finish first and claim the gold medal.
Esther Henseleit of Germany snared the silver medal with a strong 6-under 66 fourth round and 8-under 280 overall.
Another Filipino golfer Dottie Ardina placed joint 13th with a 4-under 68 fourth round and 3-under 285 overall.
Ardina, 30, fired 76 in the first, 72 in the second, and 69 in the third.
Yuka Saso, who represented the Philippines in Tokyo where she ranked 9th, uncharacteristically finished 54th with a 17 over 305 this time representing Japan.
Saso, 23, went 10-over in the final round, her best score was an even 72 in the third. She shot 77 and 74 in the first and second rounds, respectively.