Saso-less women’s team opens formidable task

NEW CLARK CITY—Bianca Isabel Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go–members of the Asiad gold medal-winning team last year in Indonesia, power the Philippine women’s golf team starting Wednesday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at Luisita Golf and Country Club.

Pagdanganan, who is bound for the prestigious LPGA, is expected to share the spotlight with World No. 1 amateur Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand in the women’s division.

The high-profile showdown will serve as sidelight to the men’s and women’s individual stroke play.

“We (Thais) are always the favorites in the SEA Games. But I don’t really feel the pressure. Instead, I am excited to play,” said Thitikul, who won the gold in individual and team events in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

Pagdanganan refused to talk about her chances but vowed to do her best.

“Every player is a possible contender, so I just have to do my own thing and play my best,” said Pagdanganan who shared the 2018 Asian Games women’s team gold with Go and Yuka Saso.
Saso won’t see action in the biennial meet.

But the Philippines still has a formidable team in Pagdanganan, Go and Abegail Arevalo. INQ