Bianca shoots 69 with 293-yard drives

MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan produced her best round so far – a three-under 69 on moving day – to improve her standing in the HSBC Women’s World Championship yesterday in Singapore.

After opening with 71 and slowing down with a birdie-less 76, Pagdanganan bounced back with a bogey-free outing at the Sentosa Golf to leap 10 places to joint 28th heading into the final round.

Driving to an average distance of 293 yards, Pagdanganan hit 12 of 14 fairways, reached 13 of 18 greens in regulation and needed 28 putts to finish a round highlighted by birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 4.

The long-hitting Pinay is at even 216 after 54 holes – 10 shots off new leader Ayaka Furue of Japan, who wrested control at 206 after a third-round 68.

Like her Tokyo Olympics teammate Pagdanganan, Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso also caught fire and turned in a 68 after initial over-par cards of 74 and 75.

Saso shot a birdie against a pair of bogeys in the first 11 holes then birdied three of the last five holes to go under-par for the first time in the tournament.

The former US Women’s Open queen improved her tally to one-over 217 for a share of 32nd from 55th the day before.

Furue, meanwhile, leads Australia’s Hannah Green by two with one round left in the $1.8 million event. Green carries a 206 card after a third-round 67.