Pagdanganan, Wannasaen out to duel in star-studded Dow Championship

MANILA, Philippines — Looking to bounce back from her recent individual campaigns, Bianca Pagdanganan shifts her focus to team play as she partners with Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen for the Dow Championship, which gets underway Thursday (Friday Manila time) at the Midland Country Club in Michigan.

Pagdanganan, coming off a tied 49th finish at last week’s US Women’s Open, is expected to bring her trademark driving power and late-round composure to the tandem. The duo is set to clash with the formidable pair of South Korea's Jenny Shin and American Auston Kim.

It won't be a walk in the park, however, as a stellar 72-team field stands in their way. Headlining the heavy hitters are high-profile duos Danielle Kang and Lydia Ko, Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson, Angel Yin and Juli Inkster, Swedish powerhouses Linn Grant and Maja Stark, and Japan's Iwai sisters, Chisato and Akie.

Yet, much of the spotlight will remain on newly crowned US Women’s Open champion Nelly Korda. Teaming up with Olivia Cowan, Korda aims to prove her mettle as a team player when they face off against the Iwai sisters in the opening round.

Meanwhile, Pauline del Rosario resumes her Epson Tour campaign on the heels of a breakthrough major debut. Though she missed the cut at the US Women’s Open, the ICTSI-backed Del Rosario is eager to apply the valuable lessons learned from her first major appearance.

She launches her bid alongside Jenny Coleman and Christin Eisenbeiss at 1:47 p.m. on Friday at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Michigan.

A strong contingent of Filipinas is also ready to make some noise on the Epson Tour with Sam Bruce teeing off at 9:09 a.m. on the first hole of the Medalist Golf Club against Paula Miranda and Kathleen Scavo.

Tomi Arejola draws an identical 9:09 a.m. tee time on No. 10, grouped with Yi Tsen Chou and Ssu-Chia Cheng, while Clariss Guce, a two-time Epson Tour winner, begins her hunt at 1:36 p.m. on No. 10 against Yu-Sang Hou and Becca Huffer.

Dottie Ardina, chasing her second tour victory, starts her campaign at 1:47 p.m. on the back nine against Carla Tejedo Mulet and Lauren Clark.