Ardina favored as ICTSI ladies pro tour unwraps

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina shoots for no less than a victory in her pro debut today, confident of her chances against a merry mix of players composed of former champions and emerging stars in the inaugural ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at The Country Club in Laguna.

“I’m excited. I really worked double time in practice for this circuit,” said Ardina, the winningest player to have come out of the ranks. “My target is to win and I’ll do my best.”

The former Junior World champion has won three events this year in the run-up to her pro debut on a course she calls home, making her marked player among the compact field vying for the top P100,000 purse in the 54-hole championship sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc.

Ardina, however, will have a lot of work to do in her first crack at the money circuit as she drew a rather late tee-time at 9:30 a.m. when wind condition is expected to be a lot tougher. She will be with Jan Punzalan and amateur Miya Legaspi.

Jayvie Agojo, one of the three former Phl Ladies Open champions in the fold, is also tipped to contend for the title in the P500,000 tournament along with fellow debuting pros and former ICTSI teammates Sarah Ababa and Lovelynn Guioguio.

Agojo, the former Hong Kong Amateur Open champion, will start at 8:20 a.m. in the company of former jungolf star Reb Bareng and amateur Marvi Monsalve.

Meanwhile, Angelo Que, a three-time Asian Tour leg winner and former Philippine Open champion, will caddy for wife Tracy, set to start at 8:30 a.m. in a flight that includes Anya Tanpinco and amateur ace Nikki Bruce.