Ardina gains LPGA final stage but Piccio exits

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina survived another harrowing stint at the Bobcat course of the Plantation Golf and Country Club, making it to the LPGA Qualifying School’s Final Stage despite a four-over 76 finish but compatriot Mia Piccio also struggled with a 76 and missed the cut by one in Florida over the weekend.

Ardina, who opened her bid with a 74 before bouncing back with 69 and 74 at the adjacent Panther layout in the middle rounds, wound up with a five-over 293 aggregate to salvage a spot in the top 80 plus ties.

She wound up tied for 71st with eight others, including Thai ace Pinrath Loomboonruang, who closed out with back-to-back 74s, 21 shots off American Amy Anderson, who ran away with the low medal honors with a 272 after a 68.

But while Ardina made it to the final stage, set Dec. 4-8, also in Florida, Piccio fell by the wayside with a 295 total, one stroke over the cut-off score of 294.

It was sorry finish for Piccio, who turned in an impressive third place finish in the first qualifying stage in California last month.

Ardina will thus 89 other players in the final elims at Daytona Beach at LPGA International – a grueling 90-hole tournament with the top finishers to earn 2014 LPGA cards (total number still to be determined) and all the other players who make the cut will receive Symetra Tour status. The top 70 players plus ties after four rounds will advance to the final 18 holes.