Bianca Pagdanganan remained within striking distance after opening with an even-par 71 at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship at The Golf Club of Avon in Avon, Connecticut on Thursday.

The two-time Olympian was cruising at two-under through 16 holes before closing with back-to-back bogeys, leaving her tied in the chasing pack, five strokes behind co-leaders Mirabel Ting and Megha Ganne, who fired matching five-under-par 66s.

Pagdanganan’s steady start keeps her firmly in contention in one of the Epson Tour’s premier events, where cool temperatures, light winds and receptive greens produced favorable scoring conditions.

Tomita Arejola was the only other Filipina inside the projected cut after carding a one-over 72. She recovered well after opening her back nine with three consecutive bogeys, bouncing back with birdies on the 14th and 16th holes.

Dottie Ardina was one stroke outside the projected cut after a 73, while Clariss Guce and Pauline del Rosario each shot 75. Samantha Bruce struggled to a 79.

The opening round belonged to two of the Epson Tour’s brightest rookies.

Ting, who entered the week ninth in the Race for the Card standings, relied on superb ball striking and a hot putter, missing just one fairway while hitting 16 greens in regulation.

“I was putting really well all morning,” Ting said. “I hit the fairway today, I only missed one fairway and hit 16 greens. There was a lot of good, but there’s also a lot to work on.”

Ganne matched Ting’s 66 after producing a spectacular finish, making an eagle on her final hole to cap a four-under 32 over her closing nine.

Japan’s Yurika Tanida sits alone in third after a four-under 67, while Camille Boyd, Gurleen Kaur, Kary Hollenbaugh and Christine Wang share fourth place at three-under.