Dottie Ardina ready for LPGA, dominates Beverly tilt

MEXICO, Pampanga, Philippines — Bracing for two big events Down Under, Dottie Ardina put up a dominating performance here to underscore her readiness for a face-off with the world’s elite.

Ardina primed herself up for a much awaited LPGA Tour return as a full-card holder in smashing fashion, outclassing the ICTSI Beverly Place Ladies Classic field with a hot start and a scorching finish to win by six over Pauline del Rosario on a closing 67 here yesterday.

Hard-pressed to claim the win ahead of her LPGA Tour jaunt in Australia, Ardina quickly doubled her overnight two-shot lead with back-to-back birdies from No. 2, and with no one mounting a serious challenge, the 25-year-old Canlubang ace practically played pressure-free the rest of the way at the Beverly Place layout.

She actually checked a bogey-birdie-par-bogey game midway through with superb iron shots, firing three birdies in the last six holes to dash whatever hopes Del Rosario had raised after a 33 start and paving the way for Ardina’s runaway triumph that further boosted her confidence in time for a clash with the world’s best in the Handa Vic Open on Feb. 7-10 in Victoria and the Women’s Australian Open on Feb. 14-17 in Grange.

“This victory means so much to me,” said Ardina after capping her domination with a second straight four-under card for a 54-hole total of seven-under 206 worth P150,000. “I needed to build on my confidence since I am facing the best golfers in these two tournaments. I have to be in top form, mentally and physically.”

She, however, stressed the need to polish her putting stroke to be at par with the world’s top players.

“Overall, my game is quite okay except for putting which I really need to polish for me to have a chance in the LPGA,” said Ardina, whose triumph likewise broke the foreign bets’ strong start in the seventh season of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Korean amateur Lee Ji Hyeon topped the kickoff leg in Baguio last October and Thai veteran dominated the Pradera Verde field last December with Ardina’s victory also providing some push for the locals’ bid when the tour resumes at Splendido on Jan. 29-31.

Four shots off Ardina at the start of the final round, Del Rosario pressed her bid in a flight ahead with birdies on Nos. 6 and 14 but the 2017 LPGT Order of Merit champion could only come closest at four as Ardina put the outcome beyond doubt with birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 16 before opting to settle for pars in the closing par-5 holes.

Del Rosario, who racked up four victories in her imposing rookie LPGT season two years ago, shot the day’s only other two-under par card of 69 for a 212 as she took runner-up honors worth P95,000 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Bracing for a tight finish, Ardina put the pressure on her pursuers with those early birdies, which Chayanun and Punpaka Phuntumabamrung had failed to match, allowing the Filipina shotmaker to cruise to the lopsided triumph, her first in a long while after dominating the circuit’s inaugural season in 2013 with back-to-back wins at The Country Club and Canlubang.

Phuntumabamrung, tied with Chayanun after two rounds, faded with three bogeys although she put up some semblance of a fight with two birdies in the last four holes to save a 72 for solo third at 213 while Chayanun hobbled with a 75 for fourth at 216.