Cyna, Dottie advance in US jungolf match play

Cyna Rodriguez and Dottie Ardina fashioned out lopsided victories over their respective rivals to advance to the second round of the Western Women’s Golf Association’s 81st National Junior Golf Championships at the TPC’s River Bend course in Cincinnati, Ohio Tuesday.

Rodriguez, who had to rally with a string of birdies in the qualifier Monday to make it to the match play phase, dished out a near-flawless game and dominated Maureen Liddy of Wisconsin through 11 holes to run away with a 9 and 7 rout.

That included five birdies as the Junior World champion fired a bogey-less round after 11 holes, prompting Liddy to say that had they continued to play 18 holes, the Filipino shotmaker might have broken the course record of the par-71 layout.

Not to be outdone, Ardina also came away with a 7 and 5 rout of Emily Potts with the former needing only a par-game to dispose off the erratic American teener.

“Dottie and Cyna played well today. I hope they keep their form all the way to the championship,” said Chris Guerrero, coach of the ICTSI-backed squad priming up for next week’s Junior World in San Diego.

Two other Filipinos gained in the rain-delayed round with Mia Piccio battling back from two holes down to turn back Rachel Nelson of Ohio, 2 and 1, and second seed Chihiro Ikeda outlasting Amelia Hill of Georgia for a similar 2 and 1 victory.

But Bambee dela Paz, who finished fourth in the elims, fell by the wayside as she dropped a 2 and 1 decision to Kelsey Lindenschmidt of West Chester, Ohio.

In other results, Christine Meier, the low medalist, defeated Kristi Cardwell of Indiana, 4 and 2, while third seed Catherine O’Donnell, of Florida booted out Brittany Talman of Washington, 2 and 1.

The first round of match play took more than 10 hours due to weather delays. Debbie de Villa, who was playing in the second division match play competition, was one-hole down going to the last two holes when play was halted due to darkness.