Ardina scrambles way to HK crown

HONG KONG — Dottie Ardina captured the Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Golf Championship despite a faltering windup, scrambling with a seven-over par 79 and holding on to a two-stroke victory over teammate Cyna Rodriguez and two others at the Discovery Bay Golf Club here yesterday.

Ardina, who seized a three-shot lead with a 69 in the second round, bucked a triple-bogey on No. 3 and a bogey-riddled backnine marred by a closing double-bogey seven, finishing with a 37-42 and ruling the event with a 220 as her pursuers likewise fumbled under tough playing condition and tumbled down with over-par scores.

"I played bad today because I could not hit the greens," said Ardina, whose approach shot on the par-5 18th that hit the water typified her poor short game in a punishing day. "I was playing so bad that I had to be defensive to protect my lead."

Rodriguez, who finished second to Ardina in last month’s Indonesia Open, blew her bid with an 8 on the par-4 No. 10, closing out with a 37-40 for a 77 and a 54-hole aggregate of 222, two shots behind the streaking 12-year-old find from Canlubang.

The 14-year-old Rodriguez matched Ardina’s 37 at the frontside and was on her way to giving her ICTSI teammate a tough fight at the back until she drove into the water hazard on No. 10, reached the green in 5 and three-putted from 30 feet for that double par.

"Masama lahat, driving, irons, putting, " rued Rodriguez, who also ruled the 13-14 division in the Junior World and the Asean Junior Open. "I lost my touch and the pin placement today was super hard."

Thailand’s Chayuda Singhsuwan, who led in the first round, dropped out of the race with a 41 after nine holes but birdied the final hole to salvage a round of 37 and a 78-222 for a share of second with Rodriguez and former RP Ladies Open winner Carmelette Villaroman, who rallied with the day’s best score of 74.

It was Ardina’s sixth triumph abroad this year, capped by her romp in the 11-12 division of the Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego last July. Ardina, one of the mainstays in a pool of talents training under the ICTSI golf program, also won the Asean Juniors, Asia Pacific Juniors and the US Kids Championships.

The victory also augured well for Ardina’s preparations for the World Amateurs slated Oct. 18-21 in South Africa where she is expected to lead the women’s squad along with Rodriguez and reigning RP Ladies Open winner Debbie de Villa.

Bambee dela Paz wound up in 15th place with a 235 after a 79 while Anya Tanpinco and Linnel de Villa shared 16th place with 237s after an 82 and 84, respectively.

Ardina actually headed for a runaway win after a 37 but dropped strokes on Nos. 10 and 12, fumbled with back-to-back bogeys from No. 15 before holing out with that 7 on No. 18.

If not for that 8 on No. 10, Rodriguez, who also had a runner-up finish in the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open, could’ve earned a shot at the title as she came up with a slew of pars the rest of the way.