Ardina, Tabuena rally; Yee stumbles

SAN DIEGO – Dottie Ardina, Miguel Tabuena and two others picked up from where Miggy Yee left off as they moved into contention after the second round of the Callaway Junior World Championships here on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

The 15-year-old Ardina bolstered her bid for a third title in four events as she carded a one-under-par 73 for a 36-hole aggregate of 148 at Torrey Pines North.

The ICTSI scholar at Leadbetter Academy recovered from a three-over card by birdying four of her last six holes, including a three-birdie string from No. 13, for that 73 for joint fifth in the girls 15-17 years play, four strokes behind Thai leader Moriya Jutanugarn with two more rounds left.

Jutanugarn also shot a 73 and kept a one-shot lead over Jang Ha Na of Korea (72-145) while Hsuan Yu Yao of Taiwan and Canada’s Christine Wong both had 146s after a pair of 74s.

Cyna Rodriguez, Ardina’s teammate at ICTSI, was tied in 30th with a 154 after a 75.

Tabuena finally got a good read of the difficult greens on a windy afternoon, producing the best round of the day at Lawrence Welk Resort course – a four-under 68 – on five birdies and suddenly became the title threat in this annual tourney of the best junior players in the world.

Tabuena was at 140 counting his even-par 72 on Tuesday and starts the final round on Thursday just four shots adrift of California’s Ricky de Santis.

As the big-hitting Yee threw away his bid with an atrocious back nine stint in the boys 11-12 at the Rancho Bernardo course of The Country Club, Marvi Monsalve, Pauline del Rosario and Harmie Constantino put themselves into the mix with contrasting rounds.

Arlene Salvador, a tiny six-year old whose Filipino parents migrated to California recently, moved closer to a title romp as she remained on top of her group with a 60-117, four strokes ahead of the field.

“It can’t get any better than this. Six players have winning chances, we’re hoping for the best tomorrow,” said Gerry Handog, delegation head of the 44-strong Philippine contingent supported by Philippine Airlines, Club Marinduque and Diamond Motors.

US Kids European world champion Philippe Winsett-Palanca provided an extra highlight when he fired a hole-in-one on No. 2 of the Pine Glen course of Sycuan Resort.

A quadruple bogey on the 16th, however, marred his 61 as he wound up sharing eighth position with compatriot Alex Bernard Trinos, nine strokes off the pace.

Yee, who led the first round by two with a 68, was in cruise control with a two-under card in the front nine until he three-putted the 10th from three feet for bogey. He fumbled with two more bogeys and a double-bogey, limping home with a 76-144 and dropping to joint fourth.

Constantino (59-123) was just a stroke behind Mexican leader Isabella Fierro at Sycuan-Pine Glen, Monsalve (71-142) was tied for third and four down in girls 13-14 years at Sycuan-Oak Glen and del Rosario (58-114) was in fourth spot and facing a four-shot deficit in girls 7-8 at Lomas Santa Fe Executive course.

Meanwhile, Marcel Puyat, the other ICTSI-backed bet, carded a 73 and stood in joint 11th with a 149 in the 15-17 boys division paced by Canada’s Richard Jung, who had a 143 after a 70.

Except for the 15-17 years action which is for 72 holes, the rest of the competitions are for 54 holes.