Pagdanganan falters on moving day and slips to 53^rd place in 2026 US Women’s Open

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN’S bid for a breakout finish at the US Women’s Open suffered a big blow as she limped with a four-over 75 on Saturday in Pacific Palisades, California.

Entering the weekend play on a positive note after a 70-74 start for joint 37^th, Ms. Pagdanganan faltered on her moving-day effort at the tough Riviera Country Club and failed to make a single birdie.

The power-hitting Pinay ace had bogeys on Nos. 5 and 18 and a double-bogey on the par-4 ninth en route to the 37-38 card that raised her aggregate to six-over 219.

Ms. Pagdanganan slipped 16 spots to 53^rd, needing a strong closeout to gain a respectable final standing in the $12-million major championship.

The two-time Olympian is looking to surpass her previous best finish at the US Women’s Open of 68^th in 2022. She previously missed the cut on her debut in 2020.

Meanwhile, the heavyweights cranked it up in the penultimate round.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda fired a second straight 67 after a horrible 73 first-round card to grab a share of the lead with Sei Young Kim (68) at 207.

Ms. Korda birdied the last three holes to seal her 34-34 sizzler and jump eight spots to pole position with Ms. Kim, who birdied the 17^th to salvage a 68.

One stroke back at 208, are In Gee Chun (69) and first-round leader Jennifer Kupcho (69) followed closely by Nasa Hataoka (69), Gaby Lopez (70) and Ruoning Yin (71) at 209. — Olmin Leyba