Golf: Ardina bags 2012 Taiwan Am Golf Championship

Yangmei, Taiwan - Dottie Ardina of the ICTSI-The Country Club captured the individual title of the 2012 Taiwan Amateur Golf Championship after posting a six-stroke victory over Taiwanese Chen Min-jou at the picturesque Sunrise Golf and Country Club, Saturday. Ardina, who shot rounds of 74-72-70, slowed down with a four-over-par 76 as strong winds and intermittent downpours made the conditions tougher for the players who got through the cut-off. She wound up with a 292 to Chen's 298. Chen, the 14-year-old junior golfer, actually carded a one-over 73, one of the best scores for the day, but that was not enough. Her compatriot, Min Lee, held the lead for three straight days but was disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard. "The course became tougher with the inclement weather. I'm happy to win it," said Ardina, who received a big hug from ICTSI-TCC and women's national coach Bong Lopez, assistants Nestor Mendoza and Carmelette Villaroman and teammates. Supamas Sangchan of Thailand and Minami Katsu of Japan finished tied with 299s but the tall Thai was declared the second runner-up for having a better score of 80 than the Japanese's 81. As for the other ICTSI-TCC bets, Cyna Rodriguez, the Hong Kong Amateur champ last week checked in at seventh with a 79-302. Jayvie Agojo, who was runner-up to Rodriguez in Hong Kong, was at 12th with a 306 after an 81.  Princess Superal struggled to an 83 and was 18th with a 310 while Sarah Ababa shot a 79 for 312, good for 23rd. Earlier this week, the Philippine tandem of Rodriguez-Agojo combined for 299 for third place in the 36-hole team competition. Taiwan's Lee and Chang Yu-hsin assembled a 146 for 296 and won by countback over Japan's Minami and Mayu Hosaka, who came up with 149 to match the 296 of the winners. Malaysia (Tan and Michelle Koh) was third with 301 followed by Thailand (Supamas Sangchan and Pinyada Kuvanun) on 310 and Singapore (Amelia Yong and Koh Sock Hwee) on 324. - AMD, GMA News