Drive On Championship Final Day 2-Under Par, McDonald Wins by 1 Stroke, Danielle Kang 2nd
Bianca Pagdanganan is teeing off on the 6th hole on the final day of the Drive On Championship. Greensboro, Georgia, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz Photo by Multivitz
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] 'Female Power Hitter' Bianca Pagdanganan (Philippines) missed out on the victory.
On the 26th (Korean time), at the Great Waters Golf Club (par 72, 6,852 yards) in Greensboro, Georgia, USA, the final day of the LPGA Tour Drive On Championship - Reynolds Lake Oconee (total prize money $1.3 million) ended with Pagdanganan adding 2-under par but finishing 3rd, 2 strokes behind (14-under par 274). Ally McDonald (USA), in her 5th year on tour, claimed her first career victory (16-under par 272). The winner's prize money was $195,000 (about 220 million KRW).
Pagdanganan started in 2nd place, 1 stroke behind, and recorded two birdies without any bogeys. She had a dull parade of pars through 16 holes without reducing her score, but made back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes late in the round. However, it was still '2%' short of overturning the lead. Her main weapon, powerful long drives, averaged 293 yards. However, she missed the green five times, making it difficult to create birdie opportunities. She recorded 29 putts.
Pagdanganan is known as the 'Hope of Philippine Women's Golf,' having won a team gold medal and an individual bronze medal at the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games. She is a rookie who joined the LPGA Tour last year through the Qualifying (Q) Series. She has been attracting attention with explosive tee shots at every tournament. She ranks first in driving distance this season (286.21 yards). Although she failed to win, she entered the top 10 for two consecutive tournaments, following a tie for 9th place at the major KPMG Women's PGA Championship on the 12th.
McDonald shot 3-under par to reach the top for the first time. She debuted in 2016 but had not achieved notable results for four years. McDonald, who said, "I am very excited to be here," added, "I played solidly over four days and managed my mindset well," and cheered, "I look forward to what comes next." Two-time champion Danielle Kang (USA) fired 4-under par in an attempt to overturn the lead but settled for 2nd place, 1 stroke behind (15-under par 273).
On the final 18th hole (par 5), her third shot grazed the hole, missing the chance for a playoff. Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) tied for 6th place (11-under par 277), and Lydia Ko (New Zealand) tied for 10th place (10-under par 278) performed well. From Korea, Choi Woon-jung (30, Volvik) faltered with an even-par round, finishing tied for 20th (6-under par 282). Shin Ji-eun (28) tied for 43rd (2-under par 286), and Ji Eun-hee (34, both Hanwha Q CELLS) and Kang Hye-ji (30) tied for 48th (1-under par 287).
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