Golf: Ardina earns winning pro debut at ICTSI LPGT

Canlubang — Dottie Ardina showed savvy veteran smarts in upending the amateur pair of Princess Superal and Cyna Rodriguez in a wire-to-wire finale of the first leg of the maiden ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at The Country Club on Friday.
                  
[Related: Rodriguez holds slim lead over Ardina at ICTSI LPG Tour]

Ardina, shooting decent scores of 72 and 70 in the initial two rounds, breezed through the wind-swept course with a seven-under-par 65 to claim the P100,000 in her professional debut in the inaugural P500,000 tournament.
                  
Two-day leader Rodriguez faded in their backside duel and ended up with a 70 and dropped to solo third with a 211 while junior golfer Miya Legaspi struggled with a 73 and wound up solo fourth at 215.

Down by one after 11 holes, Ardina scored on a string of three birdies from No. 12 to 14 to seize the upperhand.  Superal momentarily tied the game with a 25-foot birdie on No. 17 but it was matched by Ardina’s 20-foot try.
                  
Ardina finished with a nine-under-par 207 while Superal had a 208 after a 66.
                  
“It was sort of a perfect finish – solid driving and steady putting,” said Ardina. “But I still needed to come up with that long birdie putt on the 17th to keep my lead as Princess also played a superb game.”
                  
There was nothing to be ashamed of for Superal.  She held the lead in several instances and even had the opportunity to force sudden death.  However, she flubbed a four-foot putt that could have extended the match with Ardina.
                  
“I saw the line of my putt on the 18th and I just wanted my ball to go through that line. But I came up short with my allowance,” said Superal.
                  
Ardina’s victory also saved the day – and the tournament – for the pros as the amateurs took six of the top 10 placers.
                  
“I wanted to win, badly.  I just did not want to be the pro who earned the prize money.  I had to make a statement,” she also said.
                  
Jayvie Agojo, who also turned pro in this tournament, rallied at the back with a 34 for a 70 and finished fifth while amateurs Pauline del Rosario and Sam Bruce shot 70 and 71, respectively, to tie Lovelynn Guioguio, who carded a 74, at sixth at 221.
                  
Anya Tanpinco turned in a 76 for ninth at 227 while Sofia Chabon, another amateur from the ICTSI stable, also sputtered with a 76 for 10th at 229.
                  
Former PHL Ladies Open champions Heidi Chua and Mary Grace Estuesta wound up 18th and 23rd, respectively, with the former shooting a 77-237 and the latter  carding an 85-244. - AMD, GMA News