After showing promise the past two days, Bianca Pagdanganan had to recover in time to successfully finish her LPGA majors debut.
The 22-year-old rookie did just that after ending her roller-coaster of a final round with a birdie. She finished with an even 280 to take joint 9th place at the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the Aronimink Golf Course in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Monday morning (Philippine time).
The product of University of Arizona banked US$83,765.
Pagdanganan went into the fourth and final round on a high after going for 65s in her previous two rounds. It kept her just four strokes behind leader Sei Young Kim of Korea.
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, however, started the round at the back foot early after needing an extra shot at the first hole. Pars all throughout the rest of the front nine saw her slip down the standings.
Matters turned from bad to worse for Pagdanganan as she continued with pars in the next three holes to start the back nine. Three bogeys in the next three eventually pushed her out of contention.
Nonetheless, with a top 10 finish still on the line, the season’s drive leader ended her first-ever LPGA majors with a flourish. She took a one-less stroke in the final hole for a 3-over 73 for the 280 total.
Kim went on to take the win with a huge 7-under 63 for a 14-under 266 aggregate and bagged the US$645,000 prize.
