Ardina blows fine start, misses US match play

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina made an eagle-2 on No. 1 but squandered a solid start with a shaky windup and missed the match play phase by two in the 110th Women’s North and South Amateur Championship at Pinehurst No. 8 in North Carolina Thursday.

Needing a low round to get a crack at the Last 16, Ardina sank her approach shot on the par-4 No. 2 for eagle then hit two more birdies against a bogey as she bounced back from joint 41st for a coveted slot with a 33 at the turn.

But the top ICTSI-backed bet stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 10 on a wayward drive and a poor approach shot, dropped another shot on the par-5 11th and reeled back again. She tried to rebound with a birdie on No. 14 but missed a couple of birdie chances in two of the next three holes before blowing it all with a bogey on the 18th.

She finished with a 72 for a 54-hole total of 224, two shots short of No. 16.

Her three ICTSI teammates also fell by the wayside with Jayvie Agojo finishing with a 74 for a 226, Cyna Rodriguez, just within the target after two rounds, limping with a 77 for a 77 and Mia Piccio hitting an 81 for a 231.

Jaye Green of Florida sustained her form and topped the elims with a 212 after a 72, two strokes ahead of Ashley Armstrong of Illinois and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, who both had 214s after a 70 and 72, respectively.