Dottie sustains fine form, reaches final

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina continued to flash impressive form and bundled out two rivals in another exhausting day as the ace Filipina shotmaker barged into the championship round of the WWGA (Women’s Western Golf Association) National Amateur Championship at the Shawnee Country Club in Lima, Ohio Friday.

Ardina, the No. 3 seed who impressed the field with a pair of emphatic victories in the round of 32 and last 16 matches, overwhelmed Erin Sharpee of Wisconsin in their quarterfinal duel, going 5-up after 10 holes before coasting to a 5&4 romp in the morning match.

She took on second seed Abby Bools of New York in the semifinal round in the afternoon encounter and was held to an even-match after 11 holes. But the top ICTSI-backed bet put up a strong finishing kick by taking holes No. 12, 14 and 15 to go 3-up before matching par on the 16th to clinch a 3&2 victory for a spot in the final.

The 15-year-old Ardina, coming off a rousing victory in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship, shoots for the crown against Taylore Karle of Arizona, who stunned low medalist Kristina Wong, 1-up, in the other semis duel. Karle routed Bethsie Johnson of Kentucky, 5&4, in the quarterfinal round.

The final is a 36-hole affair with Ardina hoping to stay in shape and deliver the victory for the ICTSI-RP team, whose three other members fell by the wayside in the earlier stages.

But Ardina, who was booted out in the third round of the match play phase after taking the low medalist honors last year, flashed superb shotmaking as she hit almost all fairways and greens while playing a near-flawless game around the green, according to ICTSI coach Carmelette Villaroman.

She was so solid against Sharpee, winning five holes after 10. Although she yielded No. 12, Ardina matched Sharpee’s par on the next before watching her rival fumble with a bogey to wrap up the match.

Against Bools, Ardina needed to dish out a more impressive game as they remained even after 11 holes. But she got tougher in the next four holes and outlasted her rival by taking three of the next four holes to gain a crack at the championship.

Meanwhile, Bambee de la Paz failed to make it all the way to the championship, posting a 1-up victory over Corinna Rees in the semis but bowing to Elena Vukmir of Wisconsin, 1-up, in the final of the First Flight.

Over in Georgia, Antonio Asistio followed up his 69 with a three-under 68 as he moved up to fifth in 80th Southeastern Amateur Open at the par-71 The Country Club of Columbus in Columbus Friday.

Asistio pooled a 137 midway through the 72-hole championship although he stood five shots off Wade Binfield and Derek Chang, who both had 63s for a 10-under 132.

Rufino Bayron, the other ICTSI-backed bet in the fold, also improved with a 69 after an opening 71 as he gained a share of 15th at 140, eight strokes adrift.