Bianca Pagdanganan carded a 5-under-par 67 to trail solo leader Jennifer Kupcho by four strokes at the start of the Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give in Belmont, Michigan Thursday (Friday in Manila).
The Tokyo Olympian shot six birdies against a lone bogey on the par-4 sixth hole for nines of 34-33 and tie for seventh place with seven others that include defending champion Nelly Korda.
Kupcho took an early lead with a bogey-free, eagle-aided nine-under 63, while Gerina Mendoza came in second with a 64.
Meanwhile, Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso posted an even-par 72 for a share of 89th place while Dottie Ardina stumbled with a two-over-74.
Saso opened with a double bogey on No. 2 and a bogey on the fifth but managed with two birdies at 12th and 14.
She made another bogey on the 15th but sealed the round with an eagle 3.
Ardina, for her part, struggled with two bogeys and a double bogey on the first 11 holes but regained her footing with two birdies for a share of 118th place.