Ardina forces 5-way tie with 68

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina bucked a bogey start with four birdies as she fired a three-under 68 to force a five-way logjam on top in the first round of the Malaysian Ladies Amateur at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Bukit Kiara, Malaysia Tuesday.

Ardina, fully recovered from a hand injury she sustained during the Queen Sirikit Cup in Singapore last month, failed to return a six-foot putt for par on the opening hole but rebounded with a pair of birdies inside nine feet on Nos. 4 and 10.

She parred the next three then rolled in a six-footer for birdie on No. 14 before ramming in another four-footer at the par-3 17th to cap her big comeback in the 54-hole tournament that drew participants from Singapore, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea and Australia.

But Ardina found herself bunched with Malaysian aces Kelly Tan and Iman Nordin, Australia’s Whitney Hilier and Mehar Atwal of India, who turned in identical 68s at the par-71 East Course.

“Her ball-striking is quite okay but she needs to keep her putts rolling to win here. The next two days will be a shootout for sure,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Jayvie Agojo, priming up for her defense of the Hong Kong Ladies Open crown, shot a one-under 70 to grab solo sixth while ICTSI teammate Princess Superal matched par 71 to put herself in early contention in the premier division of the three-group tournament organized by the Malaysia Ladies Golf Association.

Other 71 scorers were Aretha Pan of Malaysia, Taiwan’s Chang Yu Hsin and Thai ace Savitree Thavong while Sarah Ababa carded a 72 and reigning Philippine Amateur champion Lovelynn Guioguio struggled with a 74.