RP's teeny teen golfer Ardina ready for US Women's Amateur

MANILA, Philippines – Dottie Ardina seems unfazed by foreign golfers, not even when playing against the best of them. And while most amateurs have a hard time adjusting during competition, the petite Filipina wonder behaves differently. Fact is, she's raring to starts battling on Tuesday more than 150 amateurs participating in the 108th US Women’s Amateur Championship set at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon. The women's amateur begins with a two-day, 36-hole stroke play qualifier on August 4 to 5. The top 64 will advance into the matchplay phase that commences on August 6. “I don’t let myself be intimidated," Ardina told GMANews.TV in an overseas call. "I may be small in size, but I’m always big in heart to play my best." She’s right. Many may be small, but each time she wins a tournament, she always makes heads turn. Just last week, the 14-year-old Ardina – a member of the the International Container and Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) golf team – captured the girls’ 13-to-14 division title of the Callaway Junior Golf World Championships, making her one of the pre-event favorites to win the title. "Dottie is little girl with an assuming smile off the course," ICTSI head coach Bong Lopez said. "Yet, when game time is on, she could be a monster on it." Incidentally, Lopez is attending the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Joining Ardina in the tournament is ICTSI teammate Cyna Rodriguez. Like Ardina, Rodriguez is no pushover. She defeated another ICTSI member and national team member Anya Tanpinco at the 107th PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship held in Washington last month. “Cyna’s advantage could be her growth spurt in the last few months," Lopez said. "The added height will give a smoother and rounder swing plane for more precise shot-making." - GMANews.TV