Bianca goes beyond expectations

MANILA, Philippines — Bianca Pagdanganan closed out her rookie LPGA season with a kind of finish she hopes will help spark her campaign next year.

Pagdanganan fired a three-under 69 on a late birdie binge in the CME Group Tour Championship ruled by world No. 1 Jin Young Ko in smashing fashion in Naples, Florida Sunday.

Though she wound up tied at 68th in the 72-player select field, Pagdanganan’s three straight birdies from No. 6, all from 15 feet, on her way home at the Tiburon Golf Club’s Gold course enabled her to end the tournament with a flourish after a 73-79-76 in the first three rounds.

“Yeah, it was a good way to end my round before the year ends,” said Pagdanganan, whose third-place effort in the LPGA Drive On Championship in Georgia last October was her best finish in a 10-tournament maiden season marked by eight consecutive cuts made.

That run, however, was cut when she failed to advance in the US Women’s Open in Houston two weeks ago.

Looking back, the ICTSI-backed ace said her performance far more exceeded her expectations after clinching her card in the world’s premier ladies tour with a tied for 38th finish in the LPGA Q-Series. She earned medalist honors in Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

“I feel like it was better than what I expected,” said the 23-year-old University of Arizona product, who also spiked her maiden season by emerging the Tour’s driving leader with a 283.071-yard average.

But it was her stints in two Majors that she’d like to relish most.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to get into much tournaments but it turned out to be pretty good and I was even able to play in two majors,” said Pagdanganan, who hit all but two fairways on a 266-yard norm, reached regulation 13 times but finished with 28 putts.

She received $5,189 and ended the season with $203,775 in earnings.

The LPGA Tour 2021 will kick off on Jan. 21-24 in Florida with 33 others slated across North America, Europe and Asia. But the power-hitting Filipina said she hasn›t made any plans at this moment and would just like to rest and enjoy the break.

«I haven›t planned anything yet, she said. «Just looking forward to the holidays and the off-season.

Meanwhile, Ko pocketed the top $1.1 million purse as she turned what was expected to be a shootout with compatriot and world No. 2 Sei Young Kim into a blowout as she won by five over Aussie Hannah Green and Kim on a closing 66.

One shot behind Kim after 54 holes, rode on a stirring backside assault to dominate the finale, birdying five of the last seven holes to finish with am 18-under 270 total.

Green rallied with a 67 and tied Kim, who lost her poise in the face of Ko’s scorching windup and settled for a 72, at 275.