Ardina storms ahead with near flawless 67

MEXICO, Pampanga – It took Dottie Ardina 18 holes to figure out the Beverly Place layout. And when she did, there was no stopping the LPGA Tour-bound ace from claiming the coveted spot on top.

Though she still has a round to play and a slew of rivals to ward off, the Canlubang ace heads to the last 18 holes of the ICTSI Beverly Place Ladies Classic brimming with confidence after turning in an impeccable 67 and wresting a two-stroke lead over a pair of Thai rivals.

Like the rest of the field, she rued her shaky stint on the unreceptive surface but made the most of her superb iron shots to turn in the lone under-par card of 32-35 in a day of soaring scores at the short but tricky par-71 layout.

“My irons were good but I struggled with my putting. I missed at least five birdie chances inside seven feet and could’ve finished with a seven-under card,” said Ardina, who gunned down four birdies after 16 holes then recovered from a three-putt mishap on the 17th with a closing birdie from 15 feet.

“The greens are hard and I had to adjust my approach shots,” said Ardina, whose sterling round put her closer to snapping a long title spell on the ICTSI-sponsored circuit she used to dominate ahead of her much-awaited stint in the LPGA Tour starting next month as a full-card holder.

But she remained wary of her chances for the top P150,000 purse with Chonlada Chayanun, whose late charge netted her a 69 and a share of the first round lead with compatriots Mookharin Ladgratok and Ornnicha Konsunthea Wednesday, rallying with three birdies in the last five holes in a big bounce-back from a four-over card. She salvaged a 37-35 (72) card and tied Phuntumabamrung, who strung up nines of 34-37 (71) at second at 141.

“I played really bad. Luckily, I was able to recover at the back,” said the 26-year-old Chayanun, also due for a big win in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. following a number of top five finishes.