Dottie tames field, wind

MANILA, Philippines - Eight years after she got a taste of big-time golf in the Philippine Ladies Open, Dottie Ardina feels she’s ready for the big one.

 “Yes, I think I’m ready (to win) this time,” said Ardina, moments after bucking the wind, the testy pin placements and the international field to lead the 48th staging of the Phl Ladies Open with an opening two-under par 70 at The Country Club.

Thirty-six holes and a lot of challenges still face Ardina in her quest for the country’s coveted ladies golf crown. But the many-time Junior World champion, who debuted in the Phl Ladies Open as a tiny nine-year-old lass at the Manila Golf Club in 2004 where she finished 18th, feels she’s ripe for the feat.

Now 17, Ardina has tremendously improved as a shotmaker, her three-birdie, one-bogey stint yesterday underscored her readiness to nail the elusive crown she missed in 2009 when she lost by two to Louise Manalo at Southwoods.

“It’s tough out there, with the wind blowing, the tough pin placements and the speed of the greens so difficult to read. I think I was just lucky enough to sink those long putts,” said Ardina, who knocked down a pair of 16-foot birdie putts on Nos. 6 and 16 and rammed in an eight-footer on No. 8 to negate a three-putt bogey mishap on No. 7.

That 35-35 round gave her an early two-shot cushion over defending champion Cyna Rodriguez, putting the spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad on track for a crack for a breakthrough victory in the 54-hole tournament organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils.

Ardina, however, will have a lot of hard work and warding off to do with Rodriguez leading a slew of players out to foil her title bid in the tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Bingo Bonanza, Pacsports-Nike Golf and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Rodriguez, who blasted the field to score a seven-shot romp over Lovelynn Guioguio at Southwoods last year, played a steady round of 72 marred by a bogey on the par-5 No. 8 and marked by a birdie on the next.

The University of Southern California scholar parred the last nine holes at the back and stayed in the hunt for a back-to-back crown while Thai Juruporn Ayutthaya and Korean Park Sun Hyun turned in identical 73s to lead the foreign challenge.

Reigning national champion Irina Gabasa likewise stood within striking distance with a two-over 74 card, failing to tie Rodriguez in second with two bogeys in the last three holes.

2008 champion Chihiro Ikeda also carded a 74, failing to recover from back-to-back bogey opening and finishing with a 37-37 card while Jayvie Agojo, chasing her second Phl Ladies Open title after a 2005 romp at the Manila Golf Club, shot a 75 to fall into a tie with Sunshine Baraquiel, Arieane Salvador and Guioguio.

Fancied Yupaporn Kawinpakorn of Thailand birdied No. 17 but dropped two strokes on the challenging par-4 18th and limped home with a 76, falling six shots off Ardina.

Other four over par scorers were Koreans Jung So Li and Kim Hyeon Ji, Princess Superal and Andie Unson, who is coming off a big win in the Philippine International Junior Golf Championships at Greenfield last week.

Malaysian Am champion Diana Tham also groped for form with a 39-39 round to fall into the company of Clare Legaspi, Apple Fudolin and Daniella Uy, one stroke behind Sarah Ababa and Sheryl Villasencio, who both had 77s.

The tournament is backed by Bug Busters, Sky Broadband, RCBC, Absolute, HSBC, Baileys, Inquirer Golf, Chemical Applicators and Co., Inc., De Capricho Jewelers, Gov. Jay Jay C. Suarez of Quezon Province, MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Air 21, Jungolf Phils., EEI, The Mills Country Club, Burger King and Omnisource.