Ardina, Ikeda open US Amateur bid today

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina and Chihiro Ikeda hope to come out strong in different tee-times as they kick off their campaign in the US Women’s Amateur Championship at the Rhode Island Country Club in Rhode Island Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Ardina, winner of this year’s Queen Sirikit Cup individual title, drew an 8:17 a.m. flight with Martha Leach of Kentucky and Lauren Taylor of England on No. 10 while Ikeda, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion, had a rather late tee-off at 12:37 p.m. in the company of Ashley Armstrong of Illinois and Rhode Island’s Juliet Vongphoumy on No. 1.

The top ICTSI-backed bets are two of the six Filipinas competing in the tournament, the most by the Philippines in the annual event featuring the world’s leading players and emerging stars in the land.

Also in the fold are former Philippine Ladies Open champions Jayvie Agojo and Cyna Rodriguez, Andie Unson and Sarah Ababa.

Agojo starts at 8:06 a.m. with Minnesota’s Steffi Neilen and Sienna Sims of Texas on No. 1, Rodriguez will play alongside Tiffany Lua of California and Casey Grice of Texas at 1:43 p.m. on No. 10, Unson is grouped with Kuriko Tsukiyama of New Jersey and Arizona’s Stephanie Kim at 9:12 a.m. on No. 10 and Ababa will play Rachel Rohanna of Pennsylvania and Florida’s Kailey Walsh at 8:50 a.m. on No. 1.

The top 64 players from the starting field of 156 after the 36-hole stroke play qualifier will advance to the match play phase beginning Wednesday.

“The course has been set up like in a US Open event with thick roughs and sleek putting surface,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez. “But the team is ready and in high spirits.”

Ardina and company spent the whole of Sunday at the range, hitting at varied distances.

“Driving will be the key, they must put their ball on the fairway to have any chance of reaching the green in regulation,” said Lopez.

No Filipina has ever come close to a title shot since former national team mainstay Dorothy Delasin won in 1999 at the Biltmore Forest Country Club in North Carolina with Rodriguez dropping out of the Last 16 stage in 2009.