Women’s golf: Gonzaga’s Bianca Pagdanganan opens NCAA tournament with 76

Gonzaga freshman Bianca Pagdanganan shot a 4-over-par 76 on Friday to open the NCAA Women’s Medal Championship at Eugene Country Club.

Pagdanganan, ranked 51st, is tied for 85th headed into Saturday’s second round at the 6,331-yard course.

Arizona’s Haley Moore and Purdue’s August Kim are the co-leaders at 4-under 68, one shot ahead of a group of eight. Another eight golfers are two shots back, including Washington’s Sarah Rhee.

Oklahoma State leads the team race at 4-under 284, two shots ahead of UCLA and five up on Washington and Southern California.

Gonzaga junior Ciera Min was named West Coast Conference golfer of the month for April after winning the WCC Championships.

Min shot a final-round, 6-under 66 on April 20 at Danville, California, to become the third Bulldogs golfer to win conference medalist honors in the last five years.

GU’s Pagdanganan earned golfer of the month honors for February.