Bianca routs Ladies AM field

Bianca Pagdanganan mopped up a badly outclassed Philippine Ladies Open field yesterday, firing a three-under-par 69 to win the biggest title of her career by nine shots at Wack Wack’s West course.

The 19-year-old, a sophomore at Gonzaga University in Washington, drained just five birdies in what was her worst round of the week but still routed the crack international field in tallying 200 over 54 holes at the well-manicured, tree-lined layout.

Thailand’s 13-year-old Attaya Thitikul hobbled home with a 73 for second at 209, with Filipino-Japanese Yuka Saso settling for third another two strokes behind after a closing 69.

“Coming into this tournament, I just kept reminding myself to get better everyday and not think about past tournaments,” said Pagdanganan, who was never in contention in the Philippine Am ruled by Saso last week at Riviera.

Pauline del Rosario, the 18-year-old who turns pro next week after the Pradera Ladies Challenge in Pampanga, matched par for 212, not quite the finish most expected.