Ardina, Rodriguez struggle in US Amateur

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez struggled with identical five-over par 76s and stood just above the projected cut off line in the US Women’s Amateur Championship at the Old Warson Golf and Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri Monday.

Ardina and Rodriguez made a pair of good starts at the backside of the par-71 layout but just couldn’t keep the pace at the front and fumbled with over par rounds to fall into joint 57th in the first round of the 36-hole stroke qualifier featuring the world’s top lady amateurs.

The 15-year-old Ardina, the spearhead of the ICTSI golf team and winner of the PNGA (Pacific Northwest Golf Association) title in Oregon, had a one-over card at the back but made a double bogey and two bogeys in the last nine holes for a 39-37.

Rodriguez, who also won the TransAm crown in Texas recently, dropped three shots in the last seven holes and settled for a pair of 38s.

They stood eight strokes behind Amy Anderson, who fired a three-under 68 to post a one-shot lead over Kimberly Kim and Jang Ha Na.

Bambee dela Paz, the other member of the ICTSI women’s squad, also sputtered with a double bogey and two bogeys on her way home at the front for a 77. She was in joint 72nd with 11 others and in danger of missing the cut.

The top 64 players after two rounds of stroke play will advance to the match play phase of the event.

Ardina, also the reigning national champion back home who will be leading the country’s bid in the inaugural ladies championship in the Putra Cup late this month in Bangkok, had two birdies at the back against a bogey and a double bogey. But she lost her touch at the front, missing a couple of birdie putts inside six feet.

Rodriguez had a solid stint off the tee but struggled on the unpredictable putting surface all day, making five three putts.