Piccio rolls into Trans Am finals

MANILA, Philippines -  Mia Piccio bundled out two rivals to reach the finals of the 80th Women’s Trans Amateur Championship match play but ICTSI teammate DottieArdina dropped out with a quarterfinal loss at The Country Club of Lincoln in Nebraska Friday.

The top-seeded Piccio continued to dish out fine form, outsteadying Emma Lavy, 2&1, in the morning quarterfinal match then dominating Rachel Rohanna, 5&4, in the semis to clinch the first berth in the championship.

But while Piccio frolicked, Ardina found the going tough against Agostina Parmigiani, losing her touch at the backside and absorbing a 4&3 loss from her Argentinian rival.

Parmigiani went on to beat compatriot Sofia Toccafondi, 2&1, to arrange a title showdown with the top ICTSI bet.

“Mia played perfect golf in the semis, scoring a four-under card in stroke play. She’s confident and it will be good if she gets past Ardina’s tormentor in the finals,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Against Lavy, Piccio took charge early, going 3-up after five holes then posted a 4-up lead at the turn. Lavy fought back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 but Piccio matched pars on the next three holes to wrap up the match.

Ardina fought Agostina to an all-square game after nine holes but the Filipino bet flubbed a four-foot birdie putt on No. 11 to trail. She failed to match her rival’s birdie binge on Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to yield the match.

Piccio returned in the afternoon oozing with confidence, birdying Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 11 to go four-under in stroke play. At the par-3 No. 14, she hit her tee shot to within three feet for another birdie to finish off Rohanna.

In Florida, Sarah Ababa struggled with 77 and 79 and stood in joint 13th with a 156, 12 strokes off Nicole Ferre of Venezuela and Mexico’s Regina Plasencia after two rounds of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship’ girls 16-18 division at the PGA National Golf Resort and Spa.

Ferre and Plasencia had 144s after 68 and 74, respectively, as they posted a one-shot lead over Manuela Carbajo of Argentina who carded a 71 for a 145 in the premier category of the annual event for the world’s leading junior players.

Andie Unson of the ICTSI team topped the 14-15 category while Clare Legaspi romped away with the 10-11 division crown last week.

Over in Malaysia, Geleen Handog, also of ICTSI squad, scored a 225 from rounds of 74-77-74 and finished third in the 36th RSGC Ladies Amateur Open won by Iman Nordina (74-221) of Malaysia at the Royal Selangor Golf Club last week. Sheryl Villasencio had a 241 after an 81 while Sun Choi, winner of the Indonesian Junior Open, made a 243 after a 76.