Cyna, Dottie breeze thru in WWGA

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez and Dottie Ardina stamped their class in the first round of the match play event in the 110th WWGA (Women’s Western Golf Association) National Amateur Championship, posting a pair of emphatic triumphs to advance to the Last 32 at the Rochester Golf and Country Club in Rochester, Minnesota Wednesday.

Rodriguez, the reigning RP Ladies Open champion and the No. 2 seed among the 64 survivors of the stroke play elims, outclassed compatriot Daniella Uy with her power game, essaying a 6&4 triumph to arrange a second round duel with Gina Larson of Colorado.

Ardina, spearhead of the crack ICTSI golf squad who struggled to finish No. 20 in the qualifiers, rediscovered her form and whipped Katherin Hepler of Illinois, 4&3, to set a clash with Mandi Morrow of Ohio in the lower half of the draw.

Three other members of the ICTSI golf team also advanced in the second round of the knockout phase with Sarah Ababa scoring an equally impressive 6&5 rout of Canadian Taylor Schmidt and Mia Piccio thumping Grace Kingdom, also of Illinois, 4&3.

Bambee de la Paz pulled off a 1-up victory over Andie Unson in the other all-Filipina duel in the 110th staging of the annual event where Ardina finished runner-up last year.

Ababa takes on Ashleigh Albrecht of California, Piccio battles Jackie Shepherd of Wisconsin, while de la Paz squares off with Mary Narzisi in the first of two sets of knockout matches set Thursday.

Low medalist Amy Anderson also came away with a runaway 4&3 victory over Meghan Potee of Indiana while third seed Juliana Ortiz of Colombia nipped Jill Preeshl of Wisconsin, 4&3, to likewise advance.