Young Ardina reigns as queen of Indon Open

JAKARTA — Dottie Ardina outduelled Cyna Rodriguez in a final round shootout between two of the Philippines’ reigning Junior World champions, firing a one-under par 71 and winning the Indonesia Ladies Amateur Open crown by two strokes here yesterday.

Saving her best for last, the 12-year-old Ardina fired four birdies against three bogeys for a 35-36 card, the only under-par round posted in the 54-hole tournament at the Padang Golf Pondok Indah Golf Club.

Counting her earlier 79 and 76, Ardina, who ruled her age division in the recent Junior World in San Diego, pooled an aggregate of 226, battling from two strokes down to win the crown and become the youngest winner in the 28-year history of the tournament.

"We’re very proud to see how Dottie and Cyna handled the pressure in a tight match like this. This only showed that their level of maturity has developed through a series of exposures abroad," said Bong Lopez, head coach of the national team training under the ICTSI golf program.

With the victory, Ardina, whose stint here with her fellow national pool members was sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc., clinched a spot in the national team competing in next month’s World Amateurs, alongside reigning RP Ladies Open champion Debbie de Villa and Anya Tanpinco.

Rodriguez, tied for the lead with two-time winner Lidya Jaya at the start of the round, had three birdies against six bogeys and finished with a second straight 75 for a 228 as the 14-under Junior World champion settled for runner-up honors.

Ardina and Rodriguez’s 1-2 finish in the individual competition more than made for the Philippines’ second place finish in team competition Thursday.

Bambee dela Paz finished seventh with a 233 after a 78 followed by Crystal Superal (77-235), Mia Piccio (78-238), Tanpinco (79-239), Lora Roberto (79-242), Linnel de Villa (80-248) and Debbie de Villa (81-251).

Ardina actually battled back from as many as four shots after a bogey opening and after Rodriquez birdied the third hole. But the winner of four other international titles this year, including the US Kids World Golf and the Asia-Pacific Junior Golf, came through with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 and seized control with another birdie on the 14th.

She went 2-up after Rodriguez made back-to-back bogeys from No. 15 before Ardina sealed the victory with a 14-foot birdie putt on the 17th.

Jaya, still in the hunt for a third straight crown after 14 holes, faltered with a bogey on the 15th and dropped out of the race with a bogey-par-bogey finish.