RP golfers struggle in US Women’s Amateurs

The Philippines’ Cyna Rodriguez and Dottie Ardina each carded a five-over-par 76 and were slightly above the midway cut to start their campaign in the US Women’s Amateur Championship at the Old Warson Golf and Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri. Rodriguez and Ardina, who are revered amateurs back home, made a rousing debut in the front nine but simply could not sustain their games at the par-71 layout. They were bunched at 57th in the 36-hole stroke qualifier featuring the world’s top lady amateurs. The Filipinas stood eight strokes behind Amy Anderson, who fired a three-under-par 68 to post a one-shot lead over Kimberly Kim and Jang Ha Na. Rodriguez, the 17-year-old winner of the TransAm crown in Texas recently, dropped three shots in the last seven holes and settled for a pair of 38s. She had a solid stint off the tee but struggled on the unpredictable putting surface all day, making five three putts. For her part, the 15-year-old Ardina, winner of the PNGA (Pacific Northwest Golf Association) title in Oregon, had a one-over card at the back but made a double bogey and two bogeys in the last nine holes for a 39-37. Bambee dela Paz also sputtered with a double bogey and two bogeys on her way home at the front for a 77. She was in joint 72nd with 11 others and in danger of missing the cut. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV