BIANCA Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina turned in under-par cards on windy conditions to get into position for a Top 10 finish in the Ascendant LPGA Benefitting Volunteers of America in Texas Saturday.
Ms. Pagdanganan, who is seeking a strong finish after placing third last week, fired a third straight one-under 70 while Ms. Ardina, gunning for back-to-back Top 10s, shot a 69 as the Pinay aces joined a group of 13 players who broke par amid strong winds that made play difficult at the Old American Golf Club.
The 25-year-old Ms. Pagdanganan moved to a share of eighth place at 210 going to the final 18 holes, eight shots behind Korean leader Hyo Joo Kim, who also posted a 70 for a 202 tally.
Ms. Pagdanganan had a mixed bag of five birdies and four bogeys in the penultimate round.
Making her big move was Ms. Ardina, who after a 72-70 opening, submitted her best round of 69 to leapfrog to a tie for 13th from 40th with her 211.
Ms. Ardina started Round 3 with birdies on the 15th, 17th and 3rd before finishing with two bogeys and a birdie.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kim stretched her lead to six strokes against her closest pursuers, Sarah Kemp and Lexi Thompson.
Australian Ms. Kemp submitted an eagle-aided 69 while Ms. Thompson matched par to run second at 207s. A shot back was Swedish Fridah Kinhult (68) at 208 followed by Korean So Hyeon Ryoo (68), American Sarah Schmelzer (69) and Danish Nicole Estrup (70) at 209 then Ms. Pagdanganan and four others at 210 and Ms. Ardina and Co. at 211. — Olmin Leyba
