SYLVANIA, Ohio – Back-to-back eagles from Bianca Pagdanganan on Friday vaulted her up the leaderboard at the Marathon LPGA Championship and put her squarely in position to qualify for the year’s first major, the newly renamed AIG Women’s Open (formerly known as the Women’s British) Aug. 20-23 at Royal Troon.
The last two holes at Highland Meadows Golf Club are par 5s and the long-hitting Pagdanganan made 10-foot eagle putts on both holes to card a 67 and vault into the top 10. (Pagdanganan started her round on the 10th hole.)
“That’s so cool,” said the Arizona grad, who is making her second start as an LPGA rookie. “That’s also the first time it’s ever happened to me, back to back eagle. I was like, Oh, that’s pretty rare. Of course, I just like had to keep my cool throughout the round. Couldn’t just let that take over. I was able to calm myself down and just hold on to that.”
There are 10 spots available for Royal Troon. The top 10 players not otherwise qualified will punch their tickets. On Saturday, Mariah Stackhouse put herself in strong position after posting an early 65.
In the case of a tie, there are a series of tiebreakers in place to determine the final qualifier. Any unused spots will be allocated at the next week’s qualifier at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.
Because there are no local qualifiers taking place this year for the Women’s Open due to COVID-19, the number of spots available out of Marathon has doubled from five to 10.
The qualifying leaderboard through two rounds of the Marathon LPGA Classic
- Maria Fassi, 1, 133
- Bianca Pagdanganan, T2, 136
- Sophia Popov, T2, 136
- Matilda Castren, T4, 137
- Paula Reto, T4, 137
- Patty Tavatanakit, T4, 137
- Lindy Duncan, T7, 138
- Andrea Lee, T7, 138
- Elizabeth Szokol, T7, 138
- Emma Talley, T7, 138
- Kelly Tan, T7, 138
