Gonzaga's Bianca Pagdanganan makes hole-in-one and shoots NCAA record-tying 61

Last year Bianca Pagdanganan, as a freshman, became the first Gonzaga golfer to compete in the NCAA Championship. She also would finish the season with the best single-season stroke average in school history. All the reason to believe this was just the beginning of big things.

Big things indeed.

Now a sophomore, Pagdanganan of Quezon City, Philippines, collected her second career victory and first of the season at the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational on Friday. She would post an 11-under 61 for an NCAA record for lowest 18-hole round.

Pagdanganan, ranked No. 170 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, would finish the 36-hole event with a 14-under 130 total being played at the par-72, 5,916-yard Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah. She won by eight shots over South Dakota State’s Megan Mingo.

Her 61 tied the best mark in NCAA women’s golf history held by Esther Lee of Colorado and Mariah Stackhouse of Stanford. Lee’s 61 came earlier this year during the fall season during the opening round at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. Stackhouse posted her 61 during the 2013 spring season in the final round of the Peg Barnard Invitational.

“Tying the NCAA record is truly an honor and I still can’t believe that I was able to do this,” said Pagdanganan. “This accomplishment would not have been possible without the help of my coaches and teammates who constantly push me to be the best player I can be.”

Pagdanganan opened her round with birdies on the first two holes and would post a 3-under 33 on the front nine. She birdied holes No. 10-12 to start the back nine. She would then birdie the 14th and 16th holes to get to 8 under for the round.

“Bianca had that look in her eyes all day and I could see she was going low with no thought of doing anything but going lower,” said Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel.

Standing on the par-3, 162-yard 17th hole, Pagdanganan would use a 9-iron that would find the bottom of the cup for a hole-in-one and to push her score to 10 under. She would then birdie the final hole to finish at 11 under.

“After two great shots on 18 she drained an eight-foot putt and fist pumped with a 61,” said Rickel.

Article first posted in golfweek.com

Gonzaga's Bianca Pagdanganan makes hole-in-one and shoots NCAA record-tying 61

Friday, July 14, 2017 Golf, People

You Can Now Ride A Segway While Playing Golf At Intramuros

It's more fun playing golf at Club Intramuros these days because golfers can now ride a Segway while doing their 18 holes. 

Intramuros golf course, also known as Club Intramuros, is a public course with a short length (par 66, 4,326 yards).  The club (which was established in 1907) is located in the heart of Manila and can be played in just over two hours, which makes it ideal for business people looking for a quick round of golf.

With the use of a Segway, the round can even be much quicker.

Prior to playing golf on a Segway, one will be trained by the Segway staff on how to use the equipment properly. 

The Club Intramuros golf course surrounds Fort Santiago, in the heart of historic Old Manila.

Contact Details

Club Intramuros,
Bonifacio Drive cor. Aduana Street,
Port Area,
Intramuros
Manila
Tel: +(63-2) 527-6613
Fax: +(63-2) 527-6614

Club Intramuros is managed by the

You Can Now Ride A Segway While Playing Golf At Intramuros

Friday, July 17, 2015 Golf, Golf Courses, Intramuros, Metro Manila, Places

Why Bacolod Golf Club (Binitin) is not in Bacolod

Someone asked on FB, "Why is Bacolod Golf Club (Binitin) not in Bacolod but in Murcia?". 

The answer...because the original Bacolod Golf Club was in Bacolod.  It just moved to Murcia close to 50 years ago.

Meet Joe Rates.  He was a stowaway from Iloilo.  Upon landing in Bacolod in the 1960s, his uncle who was the bartender at  the original Bacolod Golf Club in Mandalagan, recommended him to the club management to be an assistant.  Assistant bartender Joe Rates became.

Knowing nothing about golf, Joe started practicing and eventually learned and played the original Bacolod Golf Club course during caddies' days which were Monday and Friday.  Those days, Joe would regularly lose to the caddies and the caddies who won bets over Joe, would be eagerly waiting for him during the 15th and 30th of the month to collect their winnings when Joe got his salary.

Joe was unfazed.  He kept on practicing and eventually started winning.  Sooner than later, Joe was in the company of the greats - Arda, Tugot, you name them.  He traveled abroad to play and even played the Old Course at St. Andrews!

Why am I telling this story?  Well, just to let you know that we're hearing this firsthand from a native of the original Bacolod Golf Club.  The Bacolod Golf Club which was in Bacolod - not the one currently in Binitin, Murcia (the transfer will be another story on this blog).

So, where was the original Bacolod Golf Club?  What is it today?  Two questions answered by one word.

Capitolville.

Related Post :

Revisiting Cuadra Street : The Street Which Made Bacolod Chicken Inasal Popular

Bacolod City's famous chicken dish inasal (barbecued chicken) has spread far and wide across the globe reaching not just the United States of America but also the Middle East.  Unknown to many is the fact long before it reached foreign shores, inasal's humble beginnings are traced back to a small street in Bacolod known as Cuadra......Read More

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Why Bacolod Golf Club (Binitin) is not in Bacolod

Wednesday, April 01, 2015 City-Bacolod, Golf, Golf Courses, People