Ardina fires 68, finishes third in Malaysian Amateur

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina fought back with a three-under 68 and salvaged third place in the Malaysian Ladies Amateur won by Australian Whitney Hilier in come-from-behind fashion in Kuala Lumpur late Thursday.

Ardina, who co-led in the first round, also with a 68, but reeled back with a 75 Wednesday, regained her putting touch, sinking four birdies inside six feet that negated her lone bogey mishap at the par-71 KL Golf and Country Club.

But the top ICTSI-Philippine bet ran out of holes in her comeback bid, finishing with a 211, three strokes behind Hilier, who came out of nowhere to fire the tournament-best 65 for a 208 and snatch the crown from second day leader Kelly Tan of Malaysia.

Tan skied to a 74 and dropped to second at 209.

Princess Superal, the other ICTSI-backed bet who started the final round in second with a 67, cracked under pressure and fumbled with a 74, slipping to fourth at 212.

Teammates Jayvie Agojo made a 76 for a 221, Sarah Ababa carded a 74 and wound up with a 22 while Lovelynn Guioguio never got going and ended up with a second 76 for a 226.