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| Bianca Pagdanganan just fell short of a medal. AP (file photo) |
MANILA—Bianca Pagdanganan had a solid finale to her stint at the Paris Olympics women's golf event, but she still fell short of a medal after all the drama at the tail end of the fourth round on Saturday at Le Golf National.
Pagdanganan went four-under-par 68 on Day 4 to put her in medal contention at six-under-par 282 total ahead of a wild ending.
However, a birdie from China's Janet Lin right at Hole 18 virtually dashed Pagdanganan's hopes for a playoff for the bronze medal.
Despite that Pagdanganan's joint fourth place finish is the best for a Filipino golfer in the Olympics.
The one-over-par 73 on Moving Day Friday turned out to be so crucial in Pagdanganan's medal hopes as she was not far behind the bronze medalist Lin, who finished the tournament seven-under-par 281, and the other podium finishers.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko, despite a more conservative Day 4, still emerged as the champion after finishing 10-under-par 278, completing a rare moment in which she now owns a bronze from 2021, silver from 2016, and this year's gold.
Esther Henseleit settled for the silver as her hot six-under-par 66 Round 4 to finish eight-under-par 280 still fell short of a shot at the gold.
Dottie Ardina also finished strong with a four-under-par 68 to move up to three-under-par 285.
Former Philippine team member Yuka Saso suffered a horrible finale in her debut under Team Japan as the world number 10 went 10-over-par 82 on Day 4 to finish 17-over-par 305.
The Philippine team's participation in the Paris Olympics will end with two golds, both from Carlos Yulo, and two bronzes courtesy of Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
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