NEW CLARK CITY - Bianca Pagdanganan shot a two-under par 70 to take the first-round lead in the women's division as golf competitions in the 30th Southeast Asian Games rolled off on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Pagdanganan, a part of the women's team that bagged the gold in last year's Asian Games, found herself at the top of the women's individual play after fancied, top-ranked amateur Atthaya Thitikul struggled with a 75 at the Luisita Golf Club.
But another Thai in Kan Bunnabodee is lurking behind the Filipina after a 71.
Pagdanganan's round also put the host on top of the women's team play with a total of 143, counting the 73 of Lois Kaye Go. Abby Arevalo failed to count with her 79.
The Thais are just three strokes behind at 146.
In men's play, Sean Jean Ramos shot an opening 69 to trail the opening-day leaders by just a stroke.
The Singapore pair of Aik James Leow Kwang and Hiroshi Hirahara Tai, along with Thais Nopparat Panichphol, and Almay David Denwit Boriboonsub are in a four-way tie at the top with similar 68s.