It was a forgettable tournament for LPGA rookie Bianca Pagdanganan, but it was a learning experience nonetheless.
The 23-year-old local standout could not recover from a deep hole and consequently ended the 2020 Volunteers of America Classic in last place. A 6-over 77 summed up her final round at the Old American Gold Club in The Colony, Texas, USA, Monday early morning here in the Philippines.
Once again, it was that back nine that made it hard for Pagdanganan to get something going. Her very first hole, the number 10, needed not just one but two more strokes, causing her to lose ground early.
Four more bogeys pushed her six strokes down her starting card, before she ended up this side of the course with a birdie and a par for 5-over 41.
The 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist then opened her frontside with a birdie, only to succumb to two straight bogeys in the second and third holes.
She momentarily shared 75th spot with South African Ashleigh Buhai, but a bogey in the in number eight sealed her doom. Not even a tournament-ending birdie could rescue her from getting the wooden spoon.
Despite the finish, Pagdanganan still received 3,214 US dollars (or roughly 150,000 pesos) and saw plenty of room for improvement heading into next week’s US Women’s Open in Houston.
The 2018 Asian Games champion in team golf will reunite with teammate Yuka Saso in the said tournament. Both will try and boost their chances for a berth at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
