Dottie Ardina bucked a bogey finish for a one-over 73 and clinched a berth in next month’s US Women’s Amateur Championships with a runner-up finish in the Sectional Qualifying at the Hacienda Country Club in La Habra Heights, California Monday.
Ardina, priming up for next week’s Junior World in San Diego, stumbled with five bogeys but made four birdies in the day, including one on No. 17 that virtually sealed her spot in the US Women’s Amateur slated Aug. 4-8 in Eugene, Oregon.
Not even a missed-green bogey mishap on the 18th could derail her stint in the tournament proper as she beat A. Lee and C. Lemaster, both of California, for the second and last spot.
Lee and Lemaster finished with identical 74s.
Only the top two players advanced to the US Women’s Amateur, including topnotcher C. Stelzmiller, who dominated the field with a two-under 70.
Ardina, who hit 12 fairways and 13 greens, thus joined ICTSI teammate Cyna Rodriguez who finished joint second in the Sectional Qualifying in Kona, Hawaii over the weekend.
Mia Piccio, winner of two AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tournaments in recent months, failed to advance with an 83.