MORONG, Bataan — Bianca Pagdanganan is paired with eight-year LPGA Tour veteran PK Kongraphan of Thailand and Taiwan No. 1 Chang Ya-Chun at the start of the $100,000 Anvaya Cove Ladies International on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Filipina, who is set to compete in the Epson Tour next week, is hoping to win her first-ever pro title at home.
The three will tee off at 8 a.m. on the first hole.
The 54-hole event kicks off this year’s Ladies Professional Golf Tour and also serves as the second leg of the 2023 LPGA of Taiwan.
Kongkraphan, 31, topped the Thailand LPGA Tour Order of Merit last season.
A four-time winner on China LPGA and former Epson Tour titlist, the Thai turned pro in 2009, gained an LPGA card in 2012, and posted a career-best tied for seventh finishes in Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic and Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in 2014.
While she never made a top podium finish, Kongkraphan had 11 cuts in 23 events in 2016, went 8-of-9 in 2017, and tied for 42nd in her last LPGA event in the Volunteers of America Classic in 2019.
After the pandemic, she resumed her campaign at home, flourished in 2022, and opened the new season with a third-place finish and runner-up effort in the BGC and NSDF Championship, respectively.
“I’ve been here a long time ago with the (Thai) national team and very excited to play. Actually, I’m very comfortable playing with Asian players,” Kongkraphan said.
“I hope to keep the ball on the fairways but I need to make some putts because the greens are very challenging.”
Chang, 22, is billed as the future of Taiwan women’s golf after emerging on top of her country’s pro circuit last year, barely five months. She won once and figured in the Top 10 thrice.
“I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do, step by step, and not paying too much about the results,” Chang said.
“This course is really challenging with pretty narrow fairways.” “So you have to be very smart as to where you’re going to hit every single shot.”
Chanelle Avaricio, who won three LPGT events last year, launches her bid ahead of the featured troika at 7:50 a.m. with Thai Chonlada Chayanun and Taiwanese Yu Ju Cheng.
Harmie Constantino, who swept the last two legs of last year’s LPGT, drew former LPGT Midlands leg winner Ching Huang of Taiwan and Thai Kultida Pramphun at 8:30 a.m., also on the first hole.
