Ardina, Abdon storm ahead

Reigning world champion Dottie Ardina and John Kier Abdon appear to have taken the slots in their respective divisions in the bag by storming far ahead of their rivals at the halfway mark yesterday of the Callaway Junior World qualifying tournament, the third leg of the Samsung Jungolf Tour.

Ardina tallied rounds of 61-56 for a 117 aggregate and a whopping 22-stroke lead over Andrea Legaspi in the girls Class D at the Riviera Executive course while Abdon turned in his second straight sub-par round, a two-under 70, that had him rampaging to a 17-shot cushion in boys Class C at the Southwoods Legends.

Jayvie Agojo likewise made her big move when she scored another 73 to increase her lead to 10 in girls Class A with a 146 total. Matet Salivio couldn’t keep pace, struggling with a 79 for 156.

The battle remained tight in the other divisions as Justin Tambunting and Nonoy Negrido shared the top spot in boys Class A, Miko Yee and Linel de Villa stayed afloat in Class B, Debbie de Villa grabbing the girls Class C upperhand and Wolen Juan Superal surging ahead by six in boys Class D.

The event given major backing by Philippine Airlines, Airlift Asia, Exito Mfg., Global Lighting and Air Liquide, Phils. will select the country’s 24 bets to the Junior World tilt in San Diego, California this coming July.

Pisanti Golf, Bellevue Manila, Third World Eximport, HBW Enterprises, MCCI Corp. and BF Technology are minor sponsors.

Yee tallied a 71 for a 147 and a one-shot lead on Miko Alejandro (73). IG Gutierrez (72) and Mikee Camitoc (77) were sharing third spot at 153. In the girls side, Linelle de Villa kept the fancied Gerileen Handog at bay with a 90-172 and Katrina Gonzales and Mabel Salivio not too far behind at 177.

Debbie de Villa’s 77 pushed her two ahead of Mia Piccio (84) at 162, Tambunting and Negrido both scores 72s to pace Aran Olea by four and Superal had a couple of 56s for a 112 total and a six-shot spread over Jobim Carlos.

Although she had won the Class E crown in San Diego last year, Ardina is expected to return to seek another victory in the Class D (9-10 years) category. She will also defend her title in the US Kids World tilt in Virginia.