MANILA, Philippines – Dottie Ardina makes a rare appearance in a local tournament as she heads the roster of players out to stop Anya Tanpinco’s three-peat bid in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships presented by Samsung firing off tomorrow at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.
The 15-year-old Ardina, taking a break from her US studies as one of the scholars of the ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) golf program, hit town last Thursday and took a practice round at the par-72 layout yesterday.
“I am ready,” said Ardina, who won two legs and had two runner-up finishes in the just-concluded FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour) Laura Diaz circuit topped by ICTSI teammate Mia Piccio.
Along with 20 plus other bets, including Malaysian national team mainstays Ainil Johani Bakar and Joanne Lagan, Ardina will be trying to foil Tanpinco’s drive for a third straight championship in the weeklong event sponsored by Samsung and conducted by the Nat’l Golf Association of the Phils. and Professional Sports Management Group.
Ardina is also out to improve on her runner-up finish in 2006 when she lost to former RP Ladies Open champion Carmelette Villaroman at The Country Club.
The men’s side is also a tossup between two teams with Rufino Bayron, Antonio Asistio, Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber making up the ICTSI-backed squad and Jhonnel Ababa, Mark Fernando, Jerson Balasabas and Alvin Engino spearheading the Calatagan team’s bid.
Malaysians Mohd Iylia Jamil and Kenneth de Silva, however, are out to spoil the locals’ party in the tournament, which also features the seniors category and backed by Thunderbird Resorts, Wow Magic Sing, Mizuno, A Round of Golf, the Philippine Sports Commision, Inquirer Golf Monthly and hole-in-one sponsors Club Car, International Armoring Inc., Custom Clubmaker, Crestlink, ABW, Gargol and CranUTI.