Bianca seeks LPGA Drive On berth

Pagdanganan placed third in the LPGA Drive On at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia last year

Bianca Pagdanganan hopes to put it all together following a mediocre showing in the first LPGA Monday qualifier last week, eyeing one of the two berths in the LPGA Drive On Championship which unwraps Thursday at Golden Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Florida.

The 23-year-old Tour driving leader failed to figure in the hunt for the coveted slots in the Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona, hobbling to joint 37th in a 46-player field with a bogey-marred 78.

But she expects to come out strong this time in Monday’s qualifying and contend for a spot in the $1.5 million event featuring the world’s leading players.

American Marissa Steen topped last week’s elims and finished tied for eighth in Gainbridge LPGA ruled by Nelly Korda.

The ICTSI-backed Pagdanganan placed third in the LPGA Drive On at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia last year, her best in a 10-tournament maiden stint in the world's premier ladies circuit but wound up at No. 150 in the Rolex ranking, leaving her vying for spots in the first few tournaments of this year’s full-calendared LPGA.

She also dished out an impressive joint ninth effort in her first major, the KPMG Women’s PGA, but floundered in her last three tournaments in the pandemic-hit season.

But the gem of a power-hitter is all fired up to get going at Golden Ocala, looking for an explosive start against American Lauren Coughlin and Swede Louise Ridderstrom at 8:03 a.m.

Other top contenders for the two Drive On spots are Cheyenne Woods, Kristy McPherson and Alison Lee of the US, Korean Ji Eun Baik. Amy Boulden of Wales, Isi Gabsa of Germany and Czech Klara Spilkova.

Pagdanganan is also set to play in the next Monday qualifier for the Kia Classic on 22 March along with fellow Pinay bidders Dottie Ardina and 2019 Philippine Ladies Open champion Abby Arevalo, who will be chasing an LPGA berth for the first time.