Pagdanganan, Ardina gear up for golf battle in Thailand, Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines – Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina launch their respective campaigns in Thailand and Taiwan, respectively, next week, both aiming for solid finishes in hopes of making a mark early in the season.

Pagdanganan, for one, is set to make return to the LPGA Tour, rejoining some of the world’s best in the $1.7-million Honda LPGA Thailand on February 22-25 at the Siam Country Club’s Old Course in Chonburi.

The power-hitting shotmaker is coming into the event with renewed confidence after regaining her Tour card, seeking to contend in the two Southeast Asian legs of the world’s premier ladies circuit.

After Thailand, Pagdanganan will also vie in the HSBC Women’s World Championship from February 29 to March 3 at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course in Singapore.

In Thailand, Pagdanganan will be slugging it out with, among others, ICTSI stablemate and 2021 US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, world No. 1 and defending champion Lilia Vu of the US, No. 3 Celine Boutier from France, and former World No. 1 Jin Young Ko from Korea.

Ardina, on the other hand, begins her 2024 campaign in Taiwan, where is the lone Filipina entry in the Foxconn TLPGA Players Championship also set February 22-25 at the Orient Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan City.

The $1-million event, the third leg of this year’s LPGA of Taiwan Tour, is headlined by a slew of Thai aces, including multi-titled PK Kongkraphan, Chonlada Chayanun, Supamas Sangchan and Pawin Kawwinpakorn, and top local contenders TLPGA No. 2 Babe Liu, Ya Chun Chang, Juliana Hung, Tsai Ching Tseng and Yu Ju Chen.