Piccio makes LPGA cut but Ardina falls

MANILA, Philippines - Mia Piccio fired a two-under 70 to salvage a spot in the final round of the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament but Dottie Ardina missed the cut by one with a 72 at the LPGA International, Daytona Beach, Florida Saturday.

Piccio gunned down three birdies against a bogey at the tough Hills course and improved to joint 44th at the close of the four-day elims that selected the top 70 players vying for the coveted 20 LPGA cards in another 18-hole tournament Sunday.

Piccio stayed within the cutoff line all through four days, opening up with a 71 at the Jones layout, reeling back with a 74 at the Hills course before matching par 72 back at Jones.

Ardina, who made the Top 70 last year but failed to break through the Top 20 and settled for the Symetra Tour, was well within target despite a bogey start as she rammed in three birdies in a six-hole stretch from No. 4 to go two-under at the turn. But after three straight pars at the back, she stumbled with a bogey on No. 13 then blew her bid with a double-bogey mishap on the par-5 14th.

She struck back with a birdie on the next but settled for pars in the last three holes for a second straight 72 and a 291 total, one behind the cutoff score.