Ardina makes final cut in Australia

MANILA, Philippines — Dottie Ardina fought back from the brink of elimination with two key iron hits but bogeyed the last hole and barely made the final cut in the ISPS Handa Vic Open being paced by Korean Ayean Cho at the 13th Beach Golf Links in Victoria, Australia yesterday.

The 26-year-old Canlubang pro poised herself for a big rebound after a disastrous triple-bogey-bogey mishap from No. 15 with birdies on Nos. 3 and 7, both par-3s of the Beach course, that shoved her to joint 25th at three-under overall.

She hung tough and gained a spot in the final cut despite a bogey on the par-4 No. 9, ending up with a three-over 75 for 215 in a tie with seven others at 33rd, and advanced to the final 18 holes of the A$1.5 million event.

The ICTSI-backed Ardina scored a bogey-free two-under 70, also at the Beach layout after an opening 70 at the par-73 Creek course Thursday, to make the halfway cut, also at joint 33rd.

But after a run of pars at the backside of the par-72 Beach course, she dropped three strokes on the par-4 No. 15 and bogeyed the next, falling out of the cutoff line at tied 60th with 11 holes left.