Ardina launches pro career on ICTSI Tour

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina, perhaps the most decorated lady golfer to have come out of the ranks, makes her keenly awaited pro debut in the inaugural ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, which unwraps next month in Canlubang.

Ardina, a former Junior World champion who has racked up a number of local and international titles in a checkered amateur career, will head the roster in the first-ever local ladies pro circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. to provide local lady golfers a money circuit of their own like their men’s counterparts on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The upcoming tour will also serve as a fitting vehicle for Ardina, a five-time US Kids World champion and winner of seven titles here and abroad last year, to launch her pro career along with ICTSI teammates Jayvie Agojo and Lovelynn Guioguio.

“I’m so excited but I don’t want to put too much expectations (on myself). I just want to enjoy the moment and hopefully dish out my best always,” said Ardina, last year’s PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) awardee whose victories at True Visions in Thailand and the WWWExpress-DHL Championships at Cangolf early this year served as her last triumphs in the ranks.

“I’d also like to thank Mr. (Ricky) Razon for giving all of us a chance to have a career after our amateur days,” added Ardina, referring to the ICTSI chair and CEO, whose all-out support to Philippine golf includes the men’s pro, jungolf and the ladies amateur.

Former and current lady pros will no longer go through the qualifier and can play direct in the tournament proper, which kicks off May 15-17 for the first leg at The Country Club in Laguna. The LPGT membership fee is P3,000.

The Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has lined up an initial five-leg circuit over the country’s top courses this year with organizers of the Asian Ladies Team Championship, an annual event at Camp John Hay in Baguio, signifying their intention to insert the event into the ICTSI LPGT calendar.

Each leg will offer a total prize pot of P500,000 with the winner to take home P100,000.

Meanwhile, registration is ongoing for the 36-hole ICTSI LPGT Qualifier set May 2-3 at Cangolf’s South course.

Fee is pegged at P2,000. For details, contact Jocelyn Duque at 0915-7824751 or email [email protected].