Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Bianca Pagdanganan carded a 3-under-par 67 for a share of 24th place after three rounds in the LPGA The Annika on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
Tied at 31st going into the round, Pagdanganan tried to keep things going by shooting four birdies marred by a single bogey on the eighth for a three-round total of 203.
She had earlier rounds of 67 and 69.
Though it improved her place in the leaderboard, the Filipino bet now trailed solo leader Emily Pedersen by nine strokes – from eight the day before – heading to the final round.
Pedersen tightened her grip on the top spot by firing a bogey-free 64 for a three-stroke lead over Amy Yang and Lilia Vu.
The 27-year-old from Copenhagen, Denmark, who aims to become the first Scandinavian to win the event, continued to sizzle with six birdies for a 192 aggregate.
After rounds of 63 and 65, Pedersen maintained her consistency with a bogey-free round, gaining momentum with birdies on the second and third holes.
But she turned on the style on the back nine with four birdies, including on the par-4 18th.
“Pretty solid today. Was my first day without a bogey. I think I hit it really well. I had a lot of chances. Felt like I missed quite a few birdie putts out there,” Pedersen said.
“My short game was pretty good today. I got up and down every time I missed a green, and I holed a chip, so that definitely kept me in the game, especially early in the round,” she added.
But the round of the day belonged to Yang, who made heads turn with a career-low 61 aided by an eagle 2 on the fourth to jump from 13th. She also had seven birdies for a three-day total of 195.
“Had a great driver, middle of the fairway. I had about 120 yards slightly into the wind. Hit a 9-iron, just soft 9-iron, one bounce in. It was great to see. Yeah, it was fun,” she said.
The 34-year-old Yang has claimed four career victories on the LPGA Tour but has yet to win in the United States.
American Vu, for her part, also bolstered her title bid after propelling from 10th for a share of second with a bogey-free 62.
Vu is in contention for the LPGA Player of the Year, sitting three points behind leader Celine Boutier of France, who missed the cut.
The LPGA season concludes next week with the Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
The event is named after Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA titles, including 10 major crowns, and has attracted a strong field to the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
— Kristel Satumbaga-Villar with a report from AFP
*****
Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
