Bianca Pagdanganan will lead a strong six-player Filipino contingent competing in the Smoky Mountain Championship, set for 6 to 8 August at Green Meadow Country Club in Alcoa, Tennessee, as the race for coveted LPGA Tour cards intensifies on the Epson Tour.

Joining Pagdanganan in the 54-hole tournament are fellow Filipinas Dottie Ardina, Clariss Guce, Pauline del Rosario, Tomi Arejola, and Samantha Bruce, all seeking valuable points and momentum in the closing stretch of the Epson Tour season.

Pagdanganan enters the week as the highest-ranked Filipina in the Race for the Card, standing 46th with 293.483 points. The Epson Tour’s top 15 players at the end of the season earn LPGA Tour membership for the following year, making every tournament crucial in the battle for promotion.

Each official Epson Tour event awards 500 points to the champion, giving Pagdanganan an opportunity to make a significant climb in the standings with a strong finish in Tennessee.

A former Olympian and one of the Philippines’ longest hitters, Pagdanganan has been competing regularly on the LPGA and Epson Tours as she seeks to secure full playing status for next season.

Ardina, a veteran campaigner and LPGA Tour winner in team competition, continues to rely on her consistency and experience, while Guce, a multiple-time Epson Tour champion, remains one of the circuit’s proven performers capable of contending any given week.

Del Rosario, who earned her Epson Tour card after a successful collegiate career in the United States, continues to build experience on the developmental circuit. Meanwhile, Arejola and Bruce are looking to capitalize on their opportunities against a highly competitive international field.

The Smoky Mountain Championship is expected to attract many of the Epson Tour’s top-ranked players as the season enters a critical phase, with every point carrying added importance in the chase for one of the 15 LPGA Tour cards available through the Race for the Card.