Gonzaga University
Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational Day 1
Pagdanganan Leads after Day One at Sahalee
10/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
SAMMAMISH, Wash.-Freshman Bianca Pagdanganan continues to impress early in her collegiate career as she leads the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational through two rounds at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.
Pagdanganan tops the leaderboard after Tuesday's first two rounds, counting 142 strokes (-2) on the day. The Quezon City, Philippines native began the tournament by firing a 3-under-par 69, becoming the fifth Gonzaga player to break 70 during a tournament round. During the afternoon, she needed 73 strokes (+1) to traverse the 6,039-yard course. The freshman has the most birdies of any player in the tournament with 10 and also leads in par 4 scoring average (4.00; Even).
The Zags' other freshman is the second highest Bulldog as Jena Gao is tied for 27th with a score of 151, seven strokes above par. All seven of those shots above par came during in the morning round, but she fired an even-par 72 during the afternoon to climb into the top 30. Gao has parred 27 holes so far at Sahalee, tied for third most in the tournament.
One stroke back, junior Ciera Min is tied for 34th after counting 152 strokes (+8) on the day. The Hilo, Hawaii, native turned in a scorecard of 73 (+1) during the morning round and shot 79 (+7) during the afternoon. She parred 26 holes Tuesday, tying for sixth-most in the tournament.
Like Min, senior Raychelle Santos played better in the morning. The La Quinta, Calif., native shot even-par 72 during the initial 18 but took 82 strokes (+10) during the afternoon. She's tied for 40th at 154 (+10).
Finally, sophomore Dania Uy made her season debut Tuesday, shooting 159 (+15) during the two rounds. She carded a 6-over-par 78 during the first round and 9-over-par 81 in the second and is tied for 59th.
"I'm very impressed with our morning round; there were three great scores there," said Gonzaga women's golf head coach Brad Rickel. "Bianca shooting 69 in her first round at Sahalee is amazing. She kept battling all day as well; I'm really impressed with her scrambling and never-give-up attitude. Raychelle played really well to shoot even par early, and Ciera was right there at 73. The afternoon got the better of some of us, but Jena shooting even par in her second round at Sahalee during the last half of a two-round day is a great round. We will need a good round tomorrow if we want to move up and stick with these great teams."
As a team, the Zags are tied for fourth with a two-round total of 597, 21 strokes above par. They counted 292 strokes (+5) during the morning round and 305 (+17) in the afternoon. West Coast Conference foe Pepperdine is also tied for fourth, while both Gonzaga and Pepperdine lead San Francisco by seven shots. California leads the tournament with 581 strokes (+5).
Pagdanganan leads by one stroke over Cal's Lucia Gutierrez, who's second with a 1-under-par 143. Two players are tied for third at 145 (+1), and four players are tied for fifth with 146 (+2).
The Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational will wrap up Wednesday, Oct. 7, again at Sahalee Country Club. Santos will be the first Bulldog out on the course, and she tees off at 7:45 a.m.
