Bianca vies in LPGA qualifier
Despite a rousing debut last season, Pagdanganan still carries non-exempt status that doesn’t give her automatic entry in LPGA events.
Bianca Pagdanganan hopes to get into the Gainbridge LPGA Championship via the backdoor when she competes in an 18-hole qualifying on Monday at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida.
The 23-year-old Filipina is in the 48-strong field fighting for two spots in the $2-million event where Swede legend Annika Sorenstam will be making her return.
The Gainbridge LPGA is set on 25 February. Despite a rousing debut last season, Pagdanganan still carries non-exempt status that doesn’t give her automatic entry in LPGA events.
Pagdanganan left San Diego, California Friday in time for the qualifying.
The LPGA has calendared 34 tournaments across North America, Europe and Asia worth a record $76.45 million in prize money.
Pagdanganan has indicated her desire to join as many events possible as she tries to work on getting full exempt status. “Definitely winning events is a goal for me this year, regular and hopefully, a major. I think it’s also important for me to aim high,” she said before leaving the country early this month. Pagdanganan, LPGA’s longest hitter, used the holiday break to work on her game.
She replaced her clubs with the latest Ping models and shifted to arm-lock putting. In 10 events last season, Pagdanganan made all but one cut, finished twice inside the Top 10 and earned more than $200,000. Meanwhile, the Symetra Tour kicks off on 18-21 March with the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic at the Long Bow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona. Dottie Ardina is entered in the $200,000 tournament.
Ardina will also compete in the IOA Championship Presented By Morongo Casino Resort and Spa on 26-28 Match in Beaumont, California.
The 54-hole event stakes $150,000.