Strong start for PHL ladies in Sirikit Cup

Dottie Ardina played steady with a one-under-par 71 to help Team ICTSI-Philippines grab second place in the first round of the 2011 Queen Sirikit Cup Golf at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India. Still in search of her maiden win this year, Ardina mixed two birdies on Nos. 6 and 14 and one bogey on the fifth where she missed the green and saved the day for the Filipinas. Teammate Chihiro Ikeda only managed 76 for the PHL’s 147 production for the day. Third member Jayvie Agojo did not count with 78. The Koreans hold a two-shot lead (145) in the event also known as the Asia-Pacific Ladies Invitational Golf Team Championship. Ikeda made a 36 at the turn but struggled to a 40 coming home. Her birdies came on Nos. 8 and 17, bogeys on Nos. 6 and 10. But it was double bogeys on Nos. 11 and 16 which did her in. “The girls were paired with Team Korea — something that they really wanted. For the longest time, they wanted to play the Koreans. I think we’ll be playing with them again tomorrow," said national coach Bong Lopez, who was tapped to guide the country to its first Sirikit title. Korea was led by the 69 of Hyo Joo-kim and 76 of either Ji Hee-kim or In Gee-chun in the three-to-play, two-to-count format. New Zealand was in third on 150 followed by Chinese Taipei on 151, Japan and China were tied for fifth on 152 apiece. – Adrian Flores, JVP, GMA News