Yuka, Bianca, Dottie in contention in Michigan

MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina stayed within striking distance of the leaders after submitting identical one-under par 69s with their respective partners in the first round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational yesterday in Midland, Michigan.

Reigning US Women’s Open champion Saso and Korean Minjee Lee, Pagdanganan and American Sarah Schmelzel, and Ardina and South African Paula Reto stood four shots off four teams at the top led by world No. 1 Nelly Korda and her sister Jessica of the US.

The fancied Kordas fired a five-under par 65 to share pole position with 2019 winners Cydney Clanton of the US and Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand, Aditi Ashok of India and Pajaree Anannarukam of Thailand, and US duo Jillian Hollis and Lauren Stephenson.

The Filipinas and their respective teammates occupied joint 14th spot going to the second round, which will be played on a “better ball” format.

Saso and Lee recovered from an opening double bogey and racked five birdies against two bogeys to finish under-par.

Teeing off on the 10th, Pagdanganan and Schmelzel went four-under through 12 holes but slowed down with three bogeys heading to the clubhouse.

Ardina and Reto started and ended their round strong. They birdied three of the first four holes but limped with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 9 and a double bogey on the 11th before making up with birdies on the 13th and 17th.

Thai duo Wichanee Meechai and Pavarisa Yoktuan, meanwhile, were one off the pace on four-under, tied for second with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and England’s Mel Reid.

Two all-Korean pairs – Park In-bee and Ryu So-yeon and Hur Mi-jung with Lee6 Jeong-eun – were on three-under alongside Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn.