Ardina cards 70, shares HK Am lead

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina stayed in top form and carded a two-under 70 to forge a share of the lead with Chinese Taipei’s Peng Chieh at the start of the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship in Fanling late Tuesday.

Coming off a title romp in the Malaysian Junior Open, Ardina shot three birdies against a bogey to set in motion her bid for a second international crown in as many weeks. She missed just one fairway and made 29 putts in another superb all-around game for the 17-year-old spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad.

Ardina actually closed out her stint in Malaysia with an 81 but still won by four and she stamped her class early at the HK Golf Club’s Old Course with back-to-back birdies from No. 8. She failed to rescue a par from a missed-green mishap on No. 14 but tapped in a birdie on the 17th to complete a solid 34-36 round.

Local bets Stephanie Ho and Tam Kitty both shot 72s to trail the joint leaders by two while Jayvie Agojo struggled with her iron game and made a 74.

“Dottie was solid off the tee and putted very well today,” said ICTSI team coach Carmelette Villaroman. “She was very confident and looked forward to another successful outing.”

Thai Pinrath Loombunruang, who nipped Ardina by one to win the individual crown in the recent Santi Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at Clearwater Bay, also in Hong Kong, groped for form and limped with a 75, five shots behind the ace Filipina shotmaker.

Agojo, meanwhile, took a seven-shot lead in the accompanying Mid-Amateur Division tournament as HK’s Jane Lo and Pia Fung hobbled with 81 and 83, respectively.

Lovelynn Guioguio and Sunshine Baraquiel, the other members of the ICTSI team, wavered with 77 and 82, respectively, in the 54-hole tournament serving as part of Ardina’s buildup for the upcoming SEA Games in Jakarta in November.