Pagdanganan triumphs over adversity
MANILA, Philippines – Funny, but in the face of a challenging season and the struggle to regain her LPGA Tour card, Bianca Pagdanganan took an unconventional approach that led to not only reclaiming her full playing status on the world’s premier ladies circuit, but also nailing a spot in this week’s rich CME Globe Tour Championship.
Amid crushing missed cut stints and shattered hopes, Pagdanganan ventured beyond the greens when most golfers would intensify their focus on the sport when faced with such challenges and adversities.
“I tried to do basically everything. I started baking this year, I love chocolate chip cookies and I’m very picky, so, yes, baking,” said Pagdanganan after a late-season comeback that saw her tie for third in NW Arkansas Championship last September and finish joint second in the Ascendant LPGA Benefitting Volunteers of America last month, efforts that fueled her remarkable rise in the CME Globe ranking.
The ICTSI-backed ace capped her remarkable late rise by posting a tied for 19th finish in last weekend’s Annika Driven by Gainbridge, ending up No. 55 in the overall CME Globe derby where the Top 60 head to the $7 million CME Globe Tour Championship featuring the cream of the world’s women crop.
After losing her card, Pagdanganan faced disappointment shuttling between the Epson Tour and LPGA events, experiencing a stretch of four straight missed cuts. The frustration peaked in Hawaii where she missed the mark by a single stroke.
But rather than succumbing to despair, she decided to diversity her interests.
“I just tried to find other things to do, enjoy my life outside of golf. I just tried to not let it consume me,” said Pagdanganan. “I tried to find other things that made me happy outside the (golf) course and hopefully that was able to bring some balance back into my game.”
“I don’t know, I’ve been working so hard. My ball striking was working so well. I’ve been putting so much time into everything else like my short game and I’ve seen such a huge improvement,” she added.
Her pursuits off the course ranged from reading NBA star Gianni Antetokounmpo’s book for inspiration to taking up crocheting, a hobby she playfully admits gives her
