The Philippines’ own Bianca Pagdanganan continued her scorching form on Thursday to create a 6-shot lead heading into the final round of the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Ladies International, a TLPGA Tour and LPGT (Ladies Philippine Golf Tour) co-sanctioned event. Pagdanganan shot a low-round 5-under 67 on Thursday to carry her 36-hole total to 8-under 136.

2022 TLPGA Tour money winner, Taiwan’s Chang Ya-Chun (張雅淳) carded an even-par 72, moving into equal second on 2-under 142 with Thailand’s Kawinpakorn Pakin.

Pagdanganan, Chang, and Pakin will tee off in the last group at 8:05 in tomorrow’s final-round. The winner will take away US$18,000 in this US$100,000 tournament.

Pagdanganan, who finished her LPGA Tour season in the U.S. last year at No.112 on the money list, came out firing and made an eagle on the par-4 1st hole. The 25-year-old tallied another six birdies later in the day, offset by three bogeys, to bring her score to 8-under, six shots in front of her University of Arizona teammate Chang.

Three years younger than Pagdanganan, Chang shot two birdies and two bogeys to stay at 2-under. “This is quite an undulating course with narrow fairways here at the Anvaya Cove. And the pins were tucked. The conditions were challenging. I wasn’t quite playing aggressive enough,” Chang said. “Added with the fact that it was windier today. It was not easy. Overall, though, I think I had a steady performance. I was good from the tees especially.” Chang missed just one fairway, hit 12 greens, and needed again 30 putts.

Chou Tina Yi-Tsen (周怡岑) picked up four birdies today but gave it all away with a triple-bogey and five bogeys. “Actually, this is my first experience in the leaders’ group. I started out a little too nervous,” said Chou, who made three bogeys in a row from 4th to 6th and dropped another three shots in just one hole on the par-5 9th where she found the water twice.

Three impressive long putts converted to birdies on no.10, 11, and 16 helped Chou to move up briefly before she closed the topsy-turvy round with two consecutive bogeys and fell into a tie for seventh at 2-over 146.

“My irons were not good enough. I only hit 9 greens, so I felt I was so busy saving pars. Hopefully I will feel more relaxed and be able to bring my best game in the final-round,” Chou said.

First-round leader, Thailand’s P.K. Kongkraphan carded a second-round 75, dropping back to 1-under 143. The 2022 Thailand LPGA Tour money winner is now in a tie for fourth with compatriot Pramphun Kultida.

Huang Ching (黃靖) dropped into a tie for 11th after a Thursday 76. Tseng Tsai-Ching (曾彩晴), with also a 76, is in a tie for 15th. Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏) sit in a tie for 30th after a disappointing 80.

Only 41 players at 12-over 156 or better advanced to the final round, which did not include local player Marvi Monsalve, despite her making an ace on the 16th hole.

This event is the second leg on the 2023 TLPGA Tour and first extending overseas. There are 48 TLPGA Tour members and 10 Taiwanese players entering this week in the 66-player field.