WHY BIANCA HITS IT LONG, HER COACH EXPLAINS
Anyone who plays college golf in the United States can play in the LPGA. It’s a good training ground
Bianca Pagdanganan doesn’t remember being a long-hitter growing up.
“I only realized that in college. I had no idea. I’m not a technical person, I just try to swing the club and enjoy ripping it off the tee,” the 22-year-old LPGA rookie said, the day after finishing joint 28th in the LPGA Drive On Championship in Toledo, Ohio.
Bianca hit drives beyond 300 yards on Sunday and finished the 54-hole event with the longest average distance in the tour — 295.333 yards.
“I really do think I gained distance in college but then I also don’t remember doing anything spectacular to hit it farther,” she said.
The 489-yard, par-5 No. 2 of the Inverness Club bore witness to Bianca’s out-of-this-world feat. She cut the dogleg with a monster drive and hit a nine-iron to eight feet from 150 yards for eagle on the first day.
Yes, nine-iron second shot in a par-5 hole.
In the next two days, she made birdies look like routine pars.
Asked what she had for breakfast before she teed off in the final round, Bianca replied: “Left-over food from dinner.”
Certainly, the food had nothing to do with Bianca’s power.
She gets her power from a big shoulder turn and tremendous hip and body rotation, according to Carito Villaroman, Bianca’s coach since she was 12 years old.
“She was above average when she was young, not close to what she is now,” said Villaroman, a former world junior champion.
“Every year, I would see her distance increase,” said Villaroman, now 51. “I was expecting her to be in the top 5 of the LPGA in driving distance.”
I really do think I gained distance in college but then I also don’t remember doing anything spectacular to hit it farther.
Villaroman said during the Q-School, no one came close to Bianca’s drives.
Bianca would put to shame even our top pros, according to Villaroman.
“That’s why I don’t want to play with her anymore,” he grinned.
Jobim Carlos, who topped the local tour’s Order of Merit in 2018, had a hard time keeping it up with Bianca, Villaroman said.
“Of course, Jobim is longer, but there are times when Bianca would outdrive him,” said Villaroman who also coaches Carlos.
“Easily, Bianca hits it 280 yards, no effort. It’s when she puts weight on her shot, that’s when you realize her power,” he said.
Villaroman said Bianca hits the ball about 10 yards farther than Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso whom he has also coached.
College golf has prepared Bianca for the
LPGA, according to Villaroman.
“Anyone who plays college golf in the United States can play in the LPGA. It’s a good training ground,” he said.
College golf teaches players the importance of physical conditioning, according to Villaroman.
“Training doesn’t stop after a round of golf. They still have to work out in the gym and do some running,” he said.
Every year, I would see her distance increase.
After rising to become Gonzaga’s top player, Bianca transferred to University of Arizona during her junior years because, Villaroman said, it had better facilities and playing conditions.
In a 2017 interview with USA Today, Arizona coach Laura Ianello was immediately impressed with Bianca who tied the NCAA women’s single round record with a 61 in the final round of the Pizza Hut Thunderbird Invitational that March.
“I feel like the greatest things in life come when you least expect it,” Ianello told USA Today.
At that time, Ianello believes the fivefoot-six Filipina could be the longest player in college golf.
“Almost like a Major League Baseball player that can throw it 110,” Ianello said. “That’s a God-given gift. She’s got it.”
Fast forward to 2020, Bianca is now the longest player in the LPGA Tour, leading the distance revolution in women’s golf.
Top coaches have been predicting women averaging 300 yards off the tee.
“The moment we crack 300 that’s going to change the women’s game,” said Dave Phillips, cofounder of the Titleist Performance Institute and a Top-100 teacher in a recent interview. “It’s like breaking the 4-minute. You now believe it can be done.”
That time has arrived. Villaroman said Bianca has been working on her wedge shots in the last three years.
“She hits the ball with a lot of spin, taking a large of divot in the process, giving her problems when the greens are soft. What we want is for her to have a variety of shots,” he said.
Villaroman said he spoke to Bianca moments after the final round of the LPGA Drive On championship.
“She was ruing about the eight-foot birdie putt she missed on the final hole,” he said.
After all, a short putt is no less than a 300-yard drive.