PENDLETON, Oregon — Bianca Pagdanganan put together another promising start but could not maintain her momentum down the stretch, settling for a 3-under-par 69 and a share of 39th after the opening round of the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic on Friday.
The ICTSI-backed Filipina looked poised for an even stronger position after making four birdies through her first 14 holes at Wildhorse Golf Course. But a late stumble prevented her from moving higher on a leaderboard that produced exceptionally low scores.
Pagdanganan carded a 34 on the front nine and 35 on the back, but her closing stretch proved costly. She bogeyed the par-4 15th, immediately recovered with a birdie on No. 17, then gave the stroke back with another bogey on the final hole to finish at 69.
Despite the uneven finish, the score kept Pagdanganan comfortably within the projected cut line and made her the best-performing Filipina in the opening round. The second round will be crucial as players battle for a place in the final 18-hole field.
Pagdanganan caught in a scoring frenzy
The low scoring at Wildhorse made every dropped stroke more significant.
With little to no wind affecting play at the Pendleton course, Australia’s Caitlin Peirce took advantage of the conditions to fire a spectacular 9-under 63, built around 10 birdies and just one bogey.
Peirce opened a one-shot advantage over a group that included South Africa’s Kaleigh Telfer, while several other players remained within striking distance. The leaderboard was tightly packed, meaning even a few strokes could dramatically alter the standings over the next two rounds.
The Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic is a $250,000 Epson Tour event scheduled for August 21-23 at Wildhorse Golf Course in Pendleton, Oregon. The tournament’s final 36 holes will determine the champion.
A chance to rebound after Portland disappointment
Pagdanganan’s 69 also represents an encouraging response after a frustrating week on the LPGA Tour.
At the Standard Portland Classic earlier this month, she opened with an impressive 66 before stumbling badly in the second round with a 75 and missing the cut. The setback came after she had finished tied for 10th at the Smoky Mountain Championship, where she closed with a 68.
That makes her opening round at Wildhorse particularly significant. The 69 did not put her among the leaders, but it gave the big-hitting Filipina a solid platform from which to attack the second round.
Other Filipinas face tougher climb
Pagdanganan was the only Filipina to finish under par in the opening round.
Dottie Ardina carded an even-par 72 and landed in a tie for 92nd after a costly double bogey on the par-3 eighth. She responded with consecutive birdies beginning at No. 10, but the early damage left her needing a much stronger second round to move safely into the weekend.
Tomi Arejola shot 73 and stood tied for 109th, while Pauline del Rosario also finished at 1-over. Two-time Epson Tour winner Clariss Guce likewise posted a 73.
All four will need substantial improvement in the second round to remain in contention for the final 18-hole field.
The bigger picture for Pagdanganan
Pagdanganan’s Wildhorse campaign comes at an important point in her 2026 season. The Epson Tour has become a key part of her schedule, while appearances on the LPGA Tour provide opportunities to test herself against the world’s best.
The official Epson Tour lists the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic as a three-day event running August 21-23 in Pendleton. Pagdanganan’s immediate challenge is clear: convert her promising start into a stronger second round and avoid another late collapse.
For now, the 69 leaves her with work to do rather than a podium position to defend.
But with 36 holes still remaining, the tournament is far from decided.
And after watching her give away valuable strokes on the final hole, the biggest question is whether Pagdanganan can finally put together a complete round when the pressure rises.
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