NEW CLARK CITY - Bianca Pagdanganan made her mark in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in her final tournament as a pro, winning the gold in the women's individual play by holding off the late charge by three fancied bets from Thailand.
The 22-year-old Pagdanganan, part of the women's team that won a gold in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, had a 71 in the final round at Luisita Golf Club in Tarlac to clinch the gold for the host on Friday.
The University of Arizona product, who earned her playing card in the lucrative LPGA Tour last month, had a three-round total of 7-under 209 in beating the Thai pair of Kan Bunnabodee and Pimnipa Panthong.
“I feel very happy to see my teammates on the final hole watching. I felt like we won as a team,” Pagdanganan said.
Bunnabodee claimed the silver with a 4-under 212 total while Panthong clinched the bronze with 213.
Another Thai in pre-tournament favorite Atthaya Thitikul missed out on a podium finish after placing fourth with a 215 total.
But an opening round of 75 by the 16-year-old Thai sensation considered as the top amateur player in the world today, hurt her chances.
Filipina Louise Kaye Go placed fifth with a 215 total. US-based Abby Arevalo closed with a 71 for a 223 total.
Next up for SEA Games is the match-play competitions at Luisita, where Pagdanganan, Go and Arevalo are the top seeds in women's play and will have a first-round bye along with No. 2 Thailand.
Third seed Malaysia takes on No. 6 Vietnam, while fourth-ranked Indonesia battles No. 5 Singapore.
The Philippine men's team is seeded fourth.
The blind match-ups will have three players per team in men's play and two in the women's division.
"We knew that Bianca would be able to catch up in the closing holes as she’s always proven to do when she’s behind," said National Golf Association of the Philippines president Martin Lorenzo.
"We look forward to equally exciting battles during the last two days for the team match play competitions. We invite everyone to come and support Team Philippines at Luisita," Lorenzo said.
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