Piccio shines, Ardina wavers in LPGA elims

MANILA, Philippines - Mia Piccio fired a one-under 71 to be right in the mix but Dottie Ardina struggled with a four-over 76 and stood way below the cut-off line at the start of the  2013 LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage I at the Mission Hills Country Club’s Palmer and Dinah Shore courses in Rancho Mirage, California Tuesday.

Piccio’s solid start at the Dinah Shore layout put her in joint 13th with nine others, three strokes behind six players who turned in identical 68s, led by Cheyenne Woods, Corie Hou and Rhea Nair. Others who carded four-under rounds were amateurs Laura Gonzales, Casey Grice and Malaysian Kelly Tan.

But while Piccio, whose campaign is backed by ICTSI, came through with an impressive start, former teammate Dottie Ardina groped for form and hobbled with a 76, also at Dinah Shore, finding herself in joint 131st with 21 others.

Ardina, who won her first two pro tournaments on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, will have a lot of work to do in the next three days as only the top 100 plus ties out of the starting field of 242 after 72 holes will advance to Stage 2.

The second phase is another 72-hole competition set Oct. 8-11 in Florida.

Four players, led by Emily Childs, Erica Popson, Kendall Wright and Carlie Yadioczky, shot identical 69s while Yueer Cindy Feng and Amy Anderson fired two-under 70s for joint 11th.