Consistent Bianca
ANOTHER Filipina ace, Bianca Pagdanganan, campaigned halfway around the world— while her former national teammate Yuka Saso reaped honors in Japan—and finished a modest 71st place tie in the Walmart NW Arkansas Golf Championship at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.
The 22-year-old Pagdanganan closed out with a one-over 72 on Sunday and with her 70 and 68 earlier, totaled 210 good for 71st place and a corresponding prize money of $4,329.
The tournament was the third on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and Pagdanganan displayed consistency by making the cut in each of them.
“It feels pretty cool to make three cuts in my first three events. I’ve learned a lot from the different people I’ve played with,” Pagdanganan said. “So it’s been a pretty amazing experience so far.”
Pagdanganan also regained status as the longest hitter on the Tour at 289.95 yards average driving distance.
The US’S Austin Ernst scored an amazing eight-under 63 to win at 20-under 193, two shots ahead of Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who finished with a 69 for 195.
Next up for Pagdanganan is the Ana Inspiration starting September 10 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Pagdanganan shared women’s team gold medal with Saso and Loise Kaye Go at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and was the individual gold medalist and a member of the title-winning team with Go and Abigail Arevalo at the 30th Southeast Asian Games last December.