LPGA Q-SCHOOL: Ardina rallies with a 69; Piccio falters

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina fought back with a three-under 69 at the Panther Course of the Plantation Golf and Country Club to wheel back into contention halfway through the 2013 LPGA Qualifying Stage II in Venice, Florida yesterday.

Ardina, who struggled with a two-over 74 in the first round at the tougher Bobcat layout, found her rhythm and form at Panther to fire that 69 as she jumped from a share of 76th to joint 20th at 143 heading to the final 36 holes of the second stage of the LPGA elims.

But while the former ICTSI stalwart boosted her bid to qualify for the final stage, former teammate Mia Piccio faltered with a 76 after a 73 for a 149 as she slipped to a share of 115th and below the qualifying line.

Although no cuts will be made this time, only the top 80 players plus ties will advance to the final round, a grueling five-day event, also in Florida, on Dec. 4-8.

It was a shaky start for Piccio, who turned in an impressive third place finish in the LPGA Stage I elims last August in California where she even contended for low medal honors before settling for third.

Piccio also placed second to Cyna Rodriguez in last month’s ICTSI Ladies PGT Wack Wack leg before heading to Florida.

Ardina ended up joint 24th in the first stage where she also fought back from a so-so opening of 76 with 69 and 71 before closing out with a 75.

But Ardina’s 143 aggregate in Stage II dropped her seven strokes behind Amy Anderson and Jenny Suh, who pooled a pair of 136s after a 66 and 68, respectively, for a one-stroke lead over Swede Dani Holmqvist (69), local ace Taylor Collins (70) and erstwhile leader Xiyu Lin of China (71), who all had 137s.