Bianca Pagdanganan provides the star power to a topnotch field in the Anvaya Cove Ladies International beginning Wednesday in Morong, Bataan, delighted with her return to the local golf scene after a long absence.
“I’m excited and looking forward to playing my first professional event in the Philippines,” said Pagdanganan, who led the country’s sweep in the individual and team gold medals in the 2019 SEA Games at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac before launching her pro career in the LPGA Tour in 2020.
With her immense power and talent, the Tokyo Olympian made an immediate impact in the world’s premier circuit, posting a joint ninth finish in a Major
— the Women’s PGA Championship — while emerging one of the Tour’s longest hitters. She made the cut nine times in 10 events, kept her card in 2021 and finished tied for 10th in the LPGA Q-Series for Tour membership in 2022.
The University of Arizona product, however, struggled in the past season and fell short of her bid in the Q-Series, relegating her to the Epson Tour which starts next week in Florida.
The 25-year-old Filipina is going for her first pro victory against a strong international field.
The $100,000 championship is sponsored by ICTSI and co-sanctioned by Taiwan LPGA Tour.
“I’m eager to be playing competitively again and to be able to play in front of a home crowd,” said Pagdanganan who is bracing for a showdown with Taiwan LPGA Tour No. 1 Chang Ya-Chun, also a former Arizona Wildcat.
“Chang was my teammate in college and I am good friends with her,” Pagdanganan said.
“It’s always a pleasure playing with top players from each country as it brings out the best in us.”
With Thailand’s No. 2 PK Kongkraphan standing at the forefront of the country’s perennial rivals’ charge, Pagdanganan and the rest of the locals, including Chanelle Avaricio, Harmie Constantino, and Chihiro Ikeda, indeed face a daunting test in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“I haven’t played with a lot of them in a while, so I’m looking forward to being in the same field as them,” said Pagdanganan when asked about her thoughts on playing with the locals in a premier championship.
“There’s so much talent in Philippine women’s golf.”
