MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina stumbled with a late bogey and settled for a one-under 71 although she improved 35 rungs up at joint 53rd halfway through the LPGA Tour’s Final Qualifying Tournament at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida Thursday.
Just when she thought she had it going after birdying two of the first six holes at the back following a par-game at the front of the Jones course, Ardina missed the 16th green and failed to return a six-footer then flubbed a birdie putt from eight feet on the par-5 18th for that 71.
Counting her 74 at the Hills layout Wednesday, Ardina pooled a 145 to jump from joint 88th to a share of 53rd, too far behind two-day leader Jaye Green but well within her target for a spot in the final round of the 90-hole tournament.
The top 70 players plus ties after four rounds will advance to the final 18 holes with the top 20 finishers to earn Category 12 status for the 2014 LPGA Tour season. Those who will finish 21st through 45th and ties will gain Category 17 berths.
But it was a frustrating day for the ace Filipina shotmaker, who had hoped to rebound at the Jones layout after a struggling start at the Hills course. She missed a couple of birdie putts at the front but finally hit her stride with birdies on Nos. 11 and 15 only to falter with a bogey on the 16th.
Back at the Hills course for the third round action Friday, the former Team ICTSI mainstay hopes to settle down and go under in the company of Hye Min Kim of Korea and Taylor Collins of Florida in the 8:30 a.m. flight.
Green, who shot a record 10-under 62 at Jones in the first round, added a 68 at the Hills and pulled away by five at 130 with Megan Grehan at 135 after a 68 and Tiffany Joh and Seon Hwa Lee at 136 after a pair of 70s.