After an impressive debut in the women’s major, Filipina LPGA rookie Bianca Pagdanganan set a tour single-week record leap, climbing from world No. 712 to No. 234 on Wednesday, October 15.

The 22-year-old power player jumped 478 rungs in only 6 tour events played to surpass British Open winner Sophia Popov of Germany’s record of 280 places set last August.

World No. 25 Popov was the lowest-ranked player ever to win a major championship which pushed her ranking up to No. 24 from No. 304.

Pagdanganan also leads the LPGA tour’s average driving distance with 286.206-yards, marked by her birdie in the 72nd hole to cap off her campaign in the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The sensational rookie shocked the competition with a 9th place finish last Sunday, October 11 (Monday, October 12, Philippine time) at the Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

She crashed into the top 10 after back-to-back bogey-free performances, scoring 65 in both the 2nd and 3rd rounds that nailed her a solo 5th spot entering the final day.

The Filipina earned a ticket to the 2020 US Women’s Open on December 10 to 13 in Houston, which will be her second career major tournament.

Filipina teen golf sensation Yuka Saso, who’s based in Japan, currently maintains a world No. 76 ranking in 18 LPGA events. – Rappler.com