Ardina stays 5 shots up, nears crown

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina wavered in the early going but fought back at the back to card a 73 and remain five shots ahead of new pursuer Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras of Thailand in the third round of the Thailand Amateur Open in Bangkok late Thursday.

Unlike in the first two rounds where she started strong en route to rounds of 69 and 71, Ardina stumbled with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 5 and had to rebound with three birdies against two bogeys, including a final hole mishap to save a 73.

With her rivals failing to mount any serious challenge at the Panya Indra Golf Club, Ardina kept her five-stroke lead intact at 213 heading to the last 18 holes of the championship.

But she drew a Thai ace in the final flight although Thanapolboonyaras will have a lot of catching up to do to foil the top ICTSI bet’s title bid. Thanapolboonyaras shot one of the day’s two 71s to assume the challenger’s role at 218 as Chihiro Ikeda hobbled with a second straight 74 and dropped to third at 219.

“I struggled with my driving today but I hope to pull it off tomorrow,” said the 17-year-old Ardina, hoping to add the Thai Am crown to her growing number of victories in the year, including the Queen Sirikit Cup individual plum and the recent Malaysian Junior Open plum.

Sarah Ababa, another ICTSI team mainstay, fired the other one-under card as she moved to a share of sixth place at 223, 10 strokes off Ardina.

Asama McKenzie skied to a 76 for a 221 while defending champion Yupaporn Kawinpakorn made a 74 for a 222.

In men’s play, Myanmar’s Maung Maung Oo likewise stayed on top with a 72-209, two shots clear of Singapore’s Gregory Foo, who took second place with a 211 after a 69 in a tie with first day joint leader Natipong Srithong, who fumbled with a 73.

Cebu’s Lloyd Go rallied with a 69 to move up to joint 13th at 220 while Raymund Jaraula made a 75 and remained too far behind at 228.