Ardina wrests lead despite 76

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina struggled with a three-over 76 but still took a three-shot lead over Andrea Unson as erstwhile leader Xiyu Lin skied to an 84 in demanding condition in the second round of the True Visions-Singha International Junior Golf Championship in Thailand Wednesday.

Ardina, who matched par 73 and stood one shot behind the Chinese bet at the start of the round, wavered in another windy day at the Royal Green Valley Golf Club in Rayong, making just two birdies against three bogeys and a double-bogey on No. 12 when she drove into the woods and needed three more shots to reach the green.

But the 17-year-old spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad found herself on top of Division A with a 149, two strokes clear off Unson as the wind blew up the field that sent the scores soaring.

Unson, who matched Ardina’s opening 73, never recovered from a four-over card after nine holes and wound up with a 78 for a 151 while Lin, nearly flawless with a one-under 72 in the first round, fumbled with too many bogeys with a double-bogey to boot and tumbled down to third at 156.

Thailand’s Nattapun Siritrai continued to struggle at home, making an 81 for a 158 while Myanmar’s Yin May Myo was at 161 after an 82.

The tough conditions also stalled Daniella Uy’s charge in Division B as she turned in a 79, dropping farther back at 153, enabling local bet Benyapa Niphatsophon to hike her lead to five with a 148 after a 78.