Dottie trails Japanese by 1; Cyna in 3rd

Dottie Ardina rode on a three-birdie string from No. 14 to fire a three-under par 70 as she trailed Japanese Airi Sugimoto by just one stroke in Class C (11-12 years old) at the start of the Junior World Golf Championships Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in San Diego, California.

It was a fine start for the 12-year-old Ardina, who had to settle for borrowed clubs after her old set was stolen on the eve of the tournament. The former champion in the 8-under division in 2002 actually headed for an even par round on a two-birdie, two-bogey stint after 13 holes but got going by birdying Nos. 14, 15 and 16.

Ardina, the best bet among the 48-player strong RP team sent here by Jungolf and spearhead of the 11-player squad sponsored by ICTSI, finished with a 35-35 card on the par-73 Cottonwood golf course, staying a shot off Sugimoto, who birdied two of her first three holes before gunning two more on Nos. 16 and 17 for that four-under par 69.

Cyna Rodriguez, another ICTSI mainstay, came through with a birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey finish and shot a one-under par 71 at the Sycuan Resort-Oak Glen, for solo third in the girls’ 13-14 years division paced by Elisa Aoki of Florida, who fired a 69 for a one-shot lead over Thai bet Chirapat Jao-Javanil, who had a 70.

Paulina Sotto likewise made a good start with a 73 to be in solo fourth in the same category while Mia Piccio limped home with a 78.

"I hit my irons really well but I missed a few fairways with some bad tee shots and my putting was not so good," said the 14-year-old Rodriguez. "Even though I had five birdies, I feel like I could’ve played better. I failed to take advantage on the par-5s as I bogeyed two of them. I’ll try to play better in the second round."

Also coming up with respectable starts among the country’s 48 starters were Chloe Reyes in girls Class F, Mia Legaspi and Abby Arevalo in the girls Class E, Miggy Yee and JR Gonzales in boys Class D and Miguel Tabuena in boys Class C.

Reyes turned in an 11-over 65 at the pitch-and-putt Colina Park course but still managed to make it to solo third although she stood nine shots off the Thai leader. Legaspi and Arevalo both had 66s at the Pine Glen layout of Sycuan to share fifth place with three others, five behind American frontrunner Yulie Koshino;

Yee and Gonzales had 63s at the Lawrence Welk Resort course to share sixth spot not too far behind Joshua Martin (58) while Tabuena shot a one under 71 at Cottonwood but still was six shots off the joint leaders in eighth spot.

Mara Monsalve, meanwhile, delivered an added highlight to the first day campaign of Team Philippines as she aced the 18th hole of Cottonwood, using a Nike 3-wood and a Callaway ball. She, however, needs a big round today to avoid missing the cut after finishing the day at 82.