Bianca Pagdanganan figured in a tough start but closed out the 2021 LPGA Volunteers of America Classic with a steady game to end at even 284. She also nabbed a share of 56th place at the at the Old American Golf Club, The Colony in Texas, USA, Monday morning (Manila time).
With the result, the Tokyo Olympics-bound golfer pocketed $3,994 (P 196,544.74), but slipped little — four spots to be exact, at 144th — for the year-end CME Globe Championship.
On the other hand, Clariss Guce also finished with a 1-over 72 for the day to round up her campaign on a share of 38th place at 2-under 284 and winning $7.254 (P 356,526.45). Rounding out the Filipino contenders is Dottie Ardina, who also had 1-over for the day for a total of 1-over 285, a share of 63rd place, and $3,493 (P 171,890.53).
Pagdanganan, the world no, 165, had rough start to the final round. Back-to-back bogeys in the 11th and 12th saw her get to 1-over. A birdie at the following hole brought her back to even, after a bogey-and-birdie combo in Nos. 17 and 18 closed her back side.
The tour rookie tried to get her groove back, but only got the birdie she wanted at no. 6. That did not last long as a mishap in the seventh with a bogey quickly erased the score. Pars in the last two holes sealed her final total for the tournament.
Guce, 31, on her part, had a disastrous start on her bid for a top 10 finish after starting at 29th place for the day. She needed an extra shot in Nos. 2, 9, and 11, and even doubled on No, 5.
However, Filpino-American turned it around and duplicated not the mishaps, but her foray at no. 8. She needed just three strokes on the said par-4 hole. Three birdies — including a back-to-back in the last two holes, Nos. 17 and 18 — rescued her otherwise up-and-down performance.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Ardina opened her day with a good start at a three-shot take of the par-4 no.10. She then stumbled on Nos. 13 and 16 to go to 1-over overall.
The tour veteran’s birdie at no. 3 brought her back to even; nonetheless, the score was negated by a bogey in no. 8 for her final score.
Jin Young Ko, who lost her world no. 1 ranking last week, got some morale boost heading into the Olympics after winning the tournament. The top South Korean golfer ended with 16-under 268 overall and banked $225,000 (P 1,1073,712.50).
Pagdanganan and Guce, along with world no. 8 Yuka Saso, are set to compete in the following tournament — the Marathon LPGA Classic — starting July 8 at the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvana, Ohio.
