Bianca outdrives LPGA field

MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan made quite an impact in her LPGA Tour debut, emerging No. 1 in driving while finishing joint 28th with a second straight 73 in the Drive On Championship won by world No. 4 Danielle Kang in Toledo, Ohio Sunday.

The long-hitting SEA Games double-gold medalist kept her mastery of Inverness Club’s three par-5s, birdying all but one for the second straight day, while gaining another stroke on the par-3 12th. But she likewise kept her three-day struggle on the demanding par-4s, yielding four strokes for another 37-36 card.

Counting her opening 74, where she went four-under on the long holes, the US-based Filipina, who normed an impressive 295-yard driving distance in three days, pooled a 220 to end up tied with 11 others at 28th. She took her first LPGA paycheck of $6,862.

“Overall, it was a good experience although I wish I could’ve done better,” Pagdanganan told The STAR. “I played in tough conditions so I’m satisfied with how I finished.”

Kang hit a 70 for a winning total of 209.