BIANCA Pagdanganan comfortably made the cut at the US Women’s Open after a 3-over-par 74 in the second round Friday (Saturday in Manila) as the tough Riviera Country course again forced players to battle for survival.
Pagdanganan, who earned a spot after topping a qualifying tournament, trails co-leaders Alison Lee and Rouning Yin by six strokes. Lee shot a 68, Yin a 69 and the two shared top spot at 4-under.
A parade of stars were at minus 3, to include In Gee Chun, overnight leader Jennifer Kupcho, Hinako Shibuno and Sei Young Kim.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda became a visible threat after firing a 4-under-par 6 and was tied for ninth at 2-under.
Pagdanganan was headed for disaster after she made four bogeys and a double from the fourth hole to the 15th that put her at 4 over for the tournament.
But gutsy birdies on the par 3 16th, where she pitched in from 42 feet, and on the par 5 17th, from a bunker blast to 10 feet, righted the ship at the opportune moment, partially saving her day, as she moved happily on towards weekend play.
She has a two-day total of 144, putting her in a tie for 38th place.
When she finished hours earlier, the cut had been at 2-over. Later it has moved up to 3 over and then to 4 over with a chance that 5 over may make it on the weekend.
Among those outside the projected cut line of 4 over are former major champions Lydia Ko and Lilia Vu, both at 5 over par.
Yuka Saso shot a 74 and was tied at 115th to miss the cut. Also missing the cut was first-time LPGA major entry Pauline del Rosario who shot a 76 and was tied for 154th place.
Tabuena surges after 2nd round 68 at LIV Golf Andalucia
Miguel Tabuena made a dramatic charge in the second round of LIV Golf Andalucia Friday, firing a 3-under-par 68 to leapfrog into the middle pack of the standings that saw many top stars struggle at the tough Real Club Valderrama course.
Tabuena moved into a tie for 26th spot from 50th and appears headed to his best finish in the upstart league whose future has been left in doubt after Saudi Arabia, its chief backer, announced last month that it will no longer financially support the series.
Tabuena was just one of 21 players who broke par, moving him to eight strokes behind Tyrell Hatton, who shot 2-under-par 69 to increase his overnight lead to two over Thomas Detry, who shot 70.
Four were tied in third place at minus 4, led by former major champions Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia who each carded 70. Also 4 under were Talor Gooch and Scott Vincent, while a stroke further was Jon Rahm.
It was a dramatic leap for Tabuena, 31, whose best finish in this league as a wild card was solo 25th at LIV Golf Virginia that netted him P11.8 million.
Tabuena rattled home six birdies, including three straight from the fourth hole, that vastly improved his position.
Among those tied with him at 26th spot were Dustin Johnson, who rallied with a 68, and Charles Howell III (74).
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