Ardina cops world jungolf crown via playoff

SAN DIEGO, California – Dottie Ardina claimed her third crown in six years in a drama-fraught day of feat and heartbreaks for the Philippines.

The 14-year-old Ardina averted a horrendous foldup after a fiery start to rule the girls’ 13-14 class via playoff for the country’s lone title in this year’s Callaway Junior World championship after sorry misses in the two other fronts it had hoped to pull off a three-title run Thursday (Friday in Manila).

 Big boy Miggy Yee struggled with poor putting in the clutch and finished third in the boys’ 11-12 while the tiny Bernice Olivarez Ilas succumbed in the final hole in the girls’ 6-and-under class.

Thus the Philippines, backed by official carrier Philippine Airlines, Samsung, Diamond Motors and Crestlink, returned to the winners’ side anew after a fruitless campaign last year.

Ardina, an ICTSI golf scholar, threatened to run away with the title with a solid five-under par on the outward trip at the Sycuan Resort to lead chief rival Alina Ching of Hawaii by seven shots at the turn.

But the daughter of a golf teaching pro in Canlubang threw it all by playing the first four holes of the backnine in five over par and needed a routine par in the first extra hole to gain the crown as Ching’s putt lipped out for bogey. Ardina submitted a one over 73 against Ching’s 72 for identical 214 cards.

With her third title, Ardina emerged the second winningest Filipino in the meet behind Ramon Brobio who had four top crowns, but the best among the Filipina winners since the country first competed here in 1975.

“Of all my championships, this one is the most satisfying because I had to win it via playoff. Akala ko talo na (I thought I blew it),” said Ardina who is bound to play in the US Women’s Amateur in Eugene, Oregon next month.

The long-hitting Yee, a La Salle Greenhills student, settled for third in the 11-12 after a 73 for 212, his day ruined by three three-putts on the backside of Lake San Marcos layout.

The 11-year-old Yee fell two shots off the pace with a three-putt bogey from 12 feet on the 17th and failed to force a playoff with eventual winner and compatriot Rico Hoey by missing an eagle putt from 20 feet on the 18th. He three-putted anew for a par for third overall.

Hoey, who was born in Makati and migrated here in 2002, made a tremendous rally from four shots down with a tournament best 67 for 210 to snare the title by one stroke over Thailand’s Korntawach Julamool (70-211).

Ilas, meanwhile, yielded the 6-and-under plum to friend Natasha Andrea Oon, daughter of a Manila-based Malaysian IT executive, who canned in a six-foot downhill birdie on the 18th at Colina Park.

Ilas, who lost a one-shot edge with a bogey on the 17th, settled for second place and later wept on the arms of mother and former national tennis champion Eva Olivarez.

Bernice had 63-180 against Oon’s 61-179.

Reigning RP Ladies Open titlist Chihiro Ikeda carded 71 while Regina de Guzman a 7 for 223, 11 shots behind leader Kongkraphan of Thailand. Sunshine Baraquiel had 78 and missed the cut, so did Louise Manalo despite a final 69. No RP bets made the cut in the boys class.

AR Ramos was joint 10th in the 11-12 boys with 75-220 while Daniella Uy took the ninth spot with a 73-224. Former champion Mia legaspi posted a 54 for 178 in the girls’ 9-10 category for seventh place while Rupert Saragoza ended up 20th with 69-194 in the boys division.