Ardina charges back to within one after 70

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina held her ground in tough playing conditions and shot a bogey-free 70 as the top Team ICTSI-Phl bet threatened to within one off Min Lee in the third round of the Taiwan Amateur Golf Championship in Yangmei, Taiwan late Thursday.

Five shots off Lee halfway through the 72-hole championship, Ardina knocked down birdies on No. 6 from six feet and on No. 16 from eight feet while rescuing pars in three times that she went out of regulation to put herself in contention for the crown that looked like a cinch for the top local bet.

But Lee failed to match Ardina’s solid round, missing a couple of par putts from close range and ending up with a two-over 74 for a 215, just one stroke ahead of the ace Filipina shotmaker, who assembled an even 216.

Japan’s Minami Katsu also moved within striking distance with a gutsy 72 for a 218, setting the stage for a shootout in the final round of the annual event featuring the region’s leading amateur players.

Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan turned in the day’s best score of 69 to likewise bounce back into the title hunt at 219 while Kelly Tan of Malaysia fell to fifth at 221 after a 75.

But while Ardina found her rhythm, the other Team ICTSI-Phl members continued to struggle with last week’s Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Cyna Rodriguez faltering with a 74 for a 223 and Santi Cup individual titlist Jayvie Agojo carding a second straight 75 for a 225.

Princess Superal pooled a 227 after a 78 while Lovelynn Guioguio and Sarah Ababa had 230 and 233 after a 73 and 76, respectively.