Ardina fires record 63, leads by 2

MANILA, Philippines — Dottie Ardina shot a bogey-free eight-under 63 to lead by two over American Sarah Schmelzel at the start of the fifth IOA Golf Classic in Longwood, Florida Friday.

The feat actually set the 18-hole tournament scoring mark at the Alaqua Country Club course, erasing the previous low of 64 set by last year’s champion Hannah Green.

A victory this week will cap the current Volvik Race for the (LPGA) card frontrunner’s impressive 2018 campaign that included five top 10 finishes.

“We have two more tournaments and I am still hungry for that win,” said Ardina, who has secured her LPGA card next year with a string of solid finishes in the season about to end.

But a slew of talented rivals are out to foil her bid, including Schmelzel, who spiked her 65 with an eagle on the par-5 13th and Fil-Am Demi Runas, who fired the day’s other bogey-free card of a 66 for joint third with Chinese Ruixin Liu and Simin Feng and Americans Elizabeth Nagel and Jillian Hollis.

Clariss Guce, another Fil-Am campaigner with two Symetra Tour victories, shot a 68.