Ardina leads RP chase in world jungolf

SAN DIEGO, California – Two-time champion Dottie Ardina heads the Philippine campaign as she guns for the 13-14 age division crown when the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship unfolds Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in nine courses here.

The 14-year-old Ardina,  whose entry to the US Women’s Amateur next week in Oregon adds to her growing list of feats, tees off at the par-72 Sycuan Resort-Oak Glen which she played in subpar in five practice rounds last week.

The 41-strong RP contingent is playing in six age divisions and the team, backed by Philippine Airlines, Samsung, Diamond Motors, Crestlink and ICTSI, hopes to earn their share of honors following impressive results in the run-up events to the Junior World.

“We wish them the best,” said Amalia Montecillo, chair of the Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines, under whose watch the country has won 19 titles since 1975.

Ardina, one of seven ICTSI players in the fold, and a David Leadbetter Academy scholar, missed nailing her third title – following victories in 8-and-under and 11-12, losing by one stroke to Argentina’s Victoria Tanco last year.

Tanco will not be around this time, but Ardina will have to contend with a star-laden field led by Stacy Stackhouse, top qualifier in the US Girls tournament,  the US-based Fil-Japanese Mariko Tumangan  and a slew of Korean and Japanese aces.

The long-hitting Ardina has been in San Diego for one month in a rigorous buildup for this event and the US Women’s next month in Eugene, Oregon before leaving for home after a year’s stay here.

“I can’t wait to go home and see my dad. I just want to have something to show him, maybe a junior world trophy, when I get the chance,” said Ardina, who skipped the official practice round on Monday confident of her form.

She will be one of five Filipinas in the division along with Angela De Villa, Sarah Ababa, Andie Unson, and Marvi Monsalve while Bino dela Paz and Miguel Tabuena, runner-up last week in the San Diego Junior Masters, play in the boys’ side with Kevin Orillos and Vijay Vasandani.

Reigning RP Ladies Open champion Chihiro Ikeda, another ICTSI scholar, leads the RP bets in the centerpiece 15-17 division at Carlton Oaks along with Regina de Guzman, Sunshine Baraquiel and Lou Isabelle Manalo.

Marcel Puyat, qualifier in the American Junior Golf Association All-Star series, John Kier Abdon, Marvin Mendoza and Jobim Carlos, winner of the O’Donnel Junior in Palm Springs, California, will banner the country’s bid in the boys’ division at the famous Torrey Pines South.

The Filipinos are coming off a winless stint in this event last year after a triple title romp in 2006 and although the focus is on Ardina, hopes are also high in the lower divisions.

Southwoods standout Miggy Yee is expected to make an impact in the 11-12 class, former titlist  Mia Legaspi and Rupert Zaragosa are  chief contenders in the 9-10 category along with Abby Arevalo in the girls side, while Bernice Olivares Ilas remains a serious threat in the 6-and-under where she finished third last year.