Bianca catches last bus to Georgia

MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan earned a slot to the inaugural LPGA Drive On Championship-Reynolds Lake Oconee, eager to spring a surprise against LPGA Tour stalwarts vying in the $1.3 million event firing off Thursday in Greensboro, Georgia.

Pagdanganan, who finished joint ninth place in her first major event, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Pennysylvania two weeks ago, was unsure of her appearance in this week’s event after being listed as third alternate during the PGA week.

But the latest Drive On roster had the ICTSI-backed ace listed as last in to the 108-player cast that features Hall of Famer Juli Inkster of the US, and LPGA stalwarts Lexi Thompson, Daniella Kang and Lizette Salas also of the US, Aussies Hannah Green and Minjee Lee, Thai Ariya Jutanugarn, Carlota Ciganda of Spain, Chinese Yu Liu, Americans Cristie Kerr, Jessica Korda and Brittany Lincicome, and Celine Boutier of France.