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Unwavering Bianca posts 6-stroke win

The Philippine Star
Unwavering Bianca posts 6-stroke win
Bianca Pagdanganan celebrates her victory.
STAR / File

MORONG, Bataan, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan turned the final round of the rich Anvaya Cove Ladies Invitational into a victory walk, beating Thais PK Kongkraphan and Pakit Kawinpakorn by six with a closing 71 here yesterday.

A muffed birdie putt from six feet on the 54th hole would’ve highlighted a triumphant campaign in her first tournament as a pro in the country but the slip proved just as trivial as the fight her rivals had put up in hot, breezy conditions.

Pagdanganan didn’t lose grip of the six-shot lead she held over Taiwanese No. 1 and former University of Arizona teammate Ya-Chun Chang and Thai Pakin Kawinpakorn after an eagle-aided 67 Thursday.

But more than the romp worth $18,000, the former LPGA Tour campaigner considered her victory as a big first step for the long trek back to the world’s premier ladies circuit.

“This victory is a big confidence-boost, makes me really excited over how the rest of the year would go,” said Pagdanganan, who dominated the $100,000 kickoff leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and second leg of the LPGA of Taiwan Tour.

Pagdanganan emerged as the lone player to break par in all three days for a nine-under 207 total, including a first-round 69.

Pagdanganan heads back to the US today to prime up for the Epson Tour, which begins on March 3 with the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven.

Kongkraphan, the eight-year LPGA veteran who seized control in the first round with a 68 but failed to match Pagdanganan’s second-round charge and faltered with 75, bounced back with an eagle-spiked 70 but could only tie Kawinpakorn at second at 213. The latter birdied the last hole to match the champion’s one-under round.

They split the combined second and third prizes worth $19,500.

Pagdanganan, the 2019 SEA Games double gold medalist, said the victory was a lot more meaningful, saying: “This is my first pro event and first pro win at home. I just enjoyed the moment, the whole experience playing before a home crowd…it’s something very memorable.”

Thai Chorphaka Jaengkit turned in the day’s best output of 68 and rallied from joint seventh to solo fourth at 214 worth $6,000.

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN

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