Ardina shares lead in Baddeley Jr golf

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina matched par 72 to tie Australian Annie Choi in the lead at the start of the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Golf Championships at the Lion Lake Golf and Country Club in Quiyung, China Thursday.

Ardina, trying to redeem herself from a poor performance in the Asian Games, turned in a two-birdie, two-bogey stint at the par-72 layout for a share of the lead in the overall division of the annual event featuring some of the top junior players in the Asia Pacific region.

Ardina, 16, also showed the way in the 17-and-under category, posting a whopping eight-shot lead over Brittany Mai and Yukina Kido of Japan, who both had 80s.

The reigning Southern Ladies Open champion back home failed to break par at the Dragon Lake Golf Club in the Asiad, scoring 82, 76, 76 and 77 as the Philippines, which included ICTSI teammates Chihiro Ikeda and Mia Piccio, struggled to finish sixth in a field of 10 in team play.

Sarah Jane Ababa, a teammate of Ardina in the ICTSI golf squad, carded a 73 to likewise gain a share of the lead with Cecilia Cho of New Zealand in the 16-and-under division of the event, which offers berths in the Women’s Australian Open and the ANZ Australian Ladies Masters to the winners.

Andrea Unson, meanwhile, groped for form and made an 84 and stood 12 shots off Choi in the 15-and-under class.