ARKANSAS (AFP) — Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan boosted her bid for permanent stay in the LPGA after finishing tied for third Sunday in the NW Arkansas Championship with a fiery 64 on the third and final round.
The 25-year-old Pagdanganan posted her best performance in three years, ending up just four shots off the winner, South Korean rookie Ryu Hae-ran.
In stringing up 69-65-64 over the past three days, Pagdanganan pocketed $112,775 or roughly P6.4 million.
“I don’t know, like things just turned around, I know I was doing great and hitting really, really great putts,” Pagdanganan said. “I just tried to keep momentum going.”
She eagled the par 4 10th and the par 5 18th to assemble the round with birdies on Nos. 5, 7, 14, 15, 17, and bogeys on Nos. 2 and 12.
“Yeah but there I felt there’s so many holes left I can play,” Pagdanganan added.
“I felt like everything is moving so slow, I was making these putts and wonder why I’m still stuck. I tried to stay in the present and focus on what I have to do.”
The last time she came that close to a title was during the 2020 Drive On Championships where she placed T3. On that same year, Pagdanganan stunned everyone when she placed T9 in the LPGA major Women’s PGA Championship.
But things got tough and she had to divide her time playing in the LPGA and the lower tier Epson Tour.
“This is definitely a confidence-booster. Obviously, there’s frustration when things don’t go well,” Pagdanganan added. “I felt like my hard-work is finally paying off.”
Dottie Ardina salvaged a T10 finish following a 67 on the last day. She banked $37,933.
Ryu won her first LPGA title on Sunday, making four birdies and an eagle on the back nine Sunday to capture the crown.
The 22-year-old from Seoul fought off the challenge from a host of rivals and overcame struggles at the start to fire a five-under par 66.
That was good enough to finish the 54-hole event on 19-under 194 and defeat Sweden’s Linnea Strom by three strokes at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.
“Before the season, I wanted to get rookie of the year but now I got a bonus, winner on the LPGA Tour” Ryu said. “Now it’s all meaningful.”
South Koreans Kim Sei-young and Jenny Shin, Japanese rookie Yuna Nishimura and Pagdanganan shared third on 198 with Australian Hannah Green another stroke adrift.
Overnight leader Ryu opened with a birdie but made bogeys at the par-5 second and par-4 fifth holes and found herself in a trophy fight as she made the turn two off the pace.
“First nine holes I felt so bad,” Ryu said. “First three holes my iron shot is going too far. Always my ball is hit over the pin and I can’t try at birdie.
“But after the ninth hole I refocus for my iron distance. I tried more to bring my swing and made so many birdies and I got it.”
