BIANCA Pagdanganan kicks off her US LPGA campaign today (Thursday in the US) in the Founders Cup presented by US Virgin Islands at the Bradenton Country Club in Bradenton, Florida.
Pagdanganan last played in November scrambling to retain her tour card, which she accomplished by finishing in a tie for 20th place at the ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at the Pelican Golf Club, just 70.6 kilometers northwest of Bradenton.
The 2019 Philippine Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist and five-year tour veteran will be in the field of 120 entries competing over the par-71, 6,465-yard course for the top prize of $300,000 (roughly P17.4 million) from the total pot of $2 million (P116 million).
Among those also vying in the four-day event is world No. 1 and hometown favorite Nelly Korda, fresh from a runner-up finish in the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in neighboring Orlando.
Also in the star-studded cast are former major champions Lydia Ko, Hannah Green, Jin Young Ko, Brooke Henderson and Celine Boutier, who will make their second starts of the season after playing in the season-opener in Orlando.
A total of 15 of the top 25 in the Rolex women’s world ratings are also vying in the tournament before the tour returns to Asia for a three-leg swing beginning with the Honda LPGA Thailand from Feb. 20 to 23 at the Siam Golf and Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand.
