Dottie ready for three-leg LPGA qualifier

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina sets out for the first of three grueling qualifiers for a dream LPGA Tour card, upbeat of her chances to become the next Filipina to play on the world’s premier ladies golf pro circuit after Jennifer Rosales in 1999.

“I’m ready for the Q-School,” Ardina told The STAR on the eve of the LPGA Qualifying School Stage 1 set Aug. 27-30 at the Palmer and Dinah Shore courses of the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.

Ardina has been in the US since last month, acclimatizing herself with the extreme weather condition and honing up for her toughest challenge since marking her pro debut with back-to-back victories on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour last May.

“I should’ve competed here last year but I registered late and was placed on the alternate list. So this year, I came here early and can say I am more than ready now compared to last year,” said Ardina, a product of the ICTSI golf program.

“We trained (with my dad Ed) for three straight weeks and I needed to acclimatize myself with the weather condition since it’s too hot here in Palm Springs,” she said.

Her buildup included gym training and daily practice with emphasis on putting.

“Putting is the key. I spent more time on the putting surface since the greens here are very much different, very undulating and difficult to read,” said Ardina.

She also stressed the need to play a conservative game on the tree-lined Palmer and Dinah courses, saying: “Course management ang kailangan dito since the Palmer and Dinah Shore courses have narrow fairways. Every shot should be perfect.”

“But of course, I will still play my game which is ‘always beat the course,’” said Ardina.

The top 60 and ties after the 72-hole first stage will advance to Stage 2, another 72-hole competition where they will be joined by the top three finishers on the CN Canadian Tour’s 2013 Order of Merit and the LPGA Tour Class A members who have not competed in an official LPGA Tournament in the previous three years.

The top 80 and ties will advance to Stage III along with the current LPGA Tour members who have not played in an official LPGA tournament the last three years, the top 10 players and ties from the official 2013 Symetra Tour year-end money list and the players ranked within the top 25 on the Rolex world rankings.

The Q-School Stage 2 is set Oct. 8-11 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida while Stage 3, a five-day, 90-hole competition, will be played Dec. 4-8 at the LPGA International, Daytona Beach, also in Florida.

In the Final Stage, the top 70 players and ties after 72 holes will advance to the final round set at the Champion Course. The top finishers will receive LPGA membership although the total number has yet to be determined prior to the start of Stage 3.

All players who complete a minimum 72 holes, however, will receive Symetra Tour status.

Rosales, a two-time LPGA winner, finished joint seventh in the LPGA Final Qualifying in 1999 and earned exempt status for the 2000 LPGA season.