MORONG, Bataan — Bianca Pagdanganan opened her 2023 season with a commanding victory in the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Ladies International on Friday.
The 25-year-old Filipina, who will play next week in the Epson Tour in the United States, closed with a one-under-par 71 to complete a six-shot win over Taiwanese No. 1 Chang Ya-Chun and Thai Pakin Kawinpakorn.
“This victory is a big confidence boost, makes me really excited about how the rest of the year would go,” said Pagdanganan, the only player to break par in all three rounds.
She finished 54 holes on nine under 207.
“It was a tough course, especially with all the challenges. I just stayed steady throughout my whole round and focused on the smaller details of my game. I don’t know, but it took a lot of patience out there with all the best players of each country on the field. They’re all just great golfers,” said Pagdanganan.
She heads back to the US on Saturday to prepare for the Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, Florida on 3 March.
Pagdanganan bagged $18,000 (about P978,000) for the victory, her biggest purse since pocketing $20,072 for sharing 65th place in the KPMG Women’s PGA June of last year.
“This is my first pro event and first pro win at home. I just enjoyed the moment, the whole experience playing before a home crowd…it’s something very memorable,” said the 2019 Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist.
She credited her success to her two-year stint in the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
“It’s very competitive out there (LPGA), so I guess, it helped me a lot this week. I felt I was more relaxed out there but not to the point of being complacent,” Pagdanganan said.
Kongkraphan, the eight-year LPGA veteran who led the first round with a 68, bounced back with an eagle-spiked 70 but could only tie Kawinpakorn for second on 213.
They split the combined second and third prizes worth $19,500.
Thai Chorphaka Jaengkit turned in the day’s best output of 68 to climb to solo fourth on 214 while Chang ended up with a 74 and tumbled to a share of fifth at 216 with compatriots Tsai-Ching Tseng and Ching Huang and Thai Kusuma Meechai, who shot 68, 69 and 71, respectively.
Meanwhile, Chanelle Avaricio aced the 162-yard No. 16 using a Ping i525 6-iron and a Bridgestone #1 ball to sink her ace in the company of Taiwanese Hsuan-Ping Chan and Tatuera Kotona of Japan. She went on to score a 69 that lifted her to joint 16th on 222.
Daniella Uy tied for 27th on 224 after a second straight 73, and Harmie Constantino wound up 29th on 225 after a 75.
