Ardina sizzles with 67, leads by 5

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina turned in a near-flawless game and shot a 67 to wrest a five-stroke lead over Malaysian Nur Durriyah Damian at the start of the Malaysian Junior Open Golf Championship at the Saujana Golf Resort and Country Club in Subang, Malaysia late Tuesday.

Coming off a runner-up finish, both in the individual and team competitions, in last week’s Santi Cup in Hong Kong, Ardina flashed superb shot-making and exceptional putting to dominate the early going of the 54-hole tournament won by ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa last year.

She hit all but two fairways and made just 24 putts for a 33-34 round at the hilly par-72 layout with small, elevated greens. The 17-year-old reigning Queen Sirikit Cup champion birdied Nos. 1, 3, 7, 10, 15 and 17 but missed the par-3 16th and failed to return a six-footer for her lone bogey.

“I like the course, it’s challenging but I think it suits my game quite well,” said the ICTSI golf team stalwart. “I think I have a good lead but need to remain focused if I’m to win the title.”

Damian settled for a 72 while India’s Adithi Ashok stood a stroke farther back at 73 followed by local bets Loy Hi Ying and Sarfina Seretharan, who both had 75s, in the overall competition.

Ardina also led the 18-under category – nine strokes ahead of Ababa, who struggled on the sleek putting surface, making 36 putts for the round and ending up with a 76 despite hitting 13 of 14 fairways.

Daniella Uy and Shery Villacencio also wavered with 77 and 84, respectively, with the former blowing a one-under card after eight holes with errant drives and poor iron game and the latter also groping for form on the greens.