Pagdanganan at joint 36th, Saso misses cut in LPGA Drive On Championship


Bianca Pagdanganan of Philippines reacts from the 7th green during the second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony Golf & Country Club on February 04, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. (AFP)

Yuka Saso missed the cut by a hairline while Bianca Pagdanganan advanced after the second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship in Fort Myers, Florida on Friday.

Saso bounced back from a disastrous opening-round 77 by carding a five-under-par 67 in the second, but her efforts came one stroke short of making the cut.

She finished the tournament with a two-round total of 143.

This would be the first time that Saso missed the cut since the Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament in the LPGA of Japan Tour in March last year.

Saso appeared in control of the round by firing five birdies until the crucial bogey on the par-3 17th hole. She, however, finished the round with a birdie 4.

Meanwhile, Pagdanganan posted a 71 for a share of 36th place with eight others following a two-round aggregate of 141.

She opened the tournament with a 70.

The 2018 Asian Games gold medalist stumbled with a double bogey on the second, but picked herself up with three birdies in the next six holes.

She had two more birdies against a bogey at the back nine.

Pagdanganan trailed co-leaders Leona Maguire and Marina Alex by 10 shots.

Maguire blasted a bogey-free 65 while Alex fired a 66 for similar 131s.