MORONG, Bataan — Bianca Pagdanganan’s torrid run was stalled by a double bogey on 16 as she settled for a three-under-par 69 in the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Ladies International on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old, however, stayed one shot behind Thai PK Kongraphan who collected five birdies against a single bogey.
Pagdanganan was making her first tournament appearance as a pro and she did not disappoint.
She opened with a birdie and gained another stroke on 4 before making her first bogey on the next hole.
Pagdanganan made her move at the turn with an eagle on 10. She hit a 3-wood off the tee and used a wedge to stick the ball within five feet from 152 yards.
“I hit it short but got a lucky bounce closer to the hole,” she recounted.
Pagdanganan made the eagle and hit two birdies to go 5-under.
She hit the wrong club on the par-3 16th, overshooting the green. She needed two shots to get to the green and two-putted for a double bogey.
Pagdanganan remained upbeat about her chances.
“My goal was to hit fairways, and felt like this course is really narrow and it’s important to keep your ball in play,” said the ICTSI-backed shotmaker. “I think I was able to at least kind of get that goal down for the day, was pretty satisfied with how I hit it and felt like I needed to capitalize more on my real opportunities. But there’s still a couple of rounds left and there’s still a lot more to look forward to.”
Kongkraphan, who played with Pagdanganan, stayed out of trouble.
“I hit very good tee shots and kept the ball in the fairway most of the time. But the wind picked up at the back nine and it’s very hard off the tee but I still hit them. On second shots, I tried not to be too aggressive and if I had the chance to get close to the hole, I just made the birdie,” said Kongkraphan who played in the LPGA Tour for eight years.
Chang, the third player in the featured flight, salvaged a 70 following a rollercoaster round of six birdies against two bogeys and double bogey.
She was joined by compatriot Yi-Tsen Chou and Thai Kusuma Meechai.
Taiwanese Ching Huang and Thai Kultida Pramphun matched 71s, while Hsuan-Ping Chang and fellow Taiwanese Tsai-Ching Tseng and Thais Pakin Kawinpakorn and Preenaphan Poomklay had identical 72s.
Chanelle Avaricio and Chihiro Ikeda were the next best-placed Filipinos on 77 while Constantino and Daniella Uy struggled with 78s.
The $100,000 event is organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Taiwan.
