Dottie completes Valley romp

ANTIPOLO, Philippines – LPGA aspirant Dottie Ardina completed a triumphant return on the local tour, re-stamping her class on her peers in a relatively easy five-stroke win in the ICTSI Valley Golf Ladies Challenge at the Valley Golf Club Executive Course here yesterday.

Ardina carded a third straight under-par round of two-under 70 despite a final-hole bogey and pulled through pressure-free with chief pursuer Lovelyn Guioguio, a long shot, succumbing to nerves and troubles early in the championship flight.

With earlier rounds of 69 and 70, the 20-year-old Canlubang pride amassed a seven-under 209 to win by five over fellow ICTSI player and LPGA hopeful Mia Piccio (72-214), and make it three-of-three in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc.

“To be honest I just believed in myself. I kept on thinking I’m better than the others,” said Ardina, sweeping the inaugural and second legs of the local women’s tour last year before taking his talent to the United States.

“And even as Lovelyn crumbled, I continued playing my game, keeping my focus on getting birdies and in going under,” Ardina also said.

As she nailed birdies on Nos. 3, 7 and 15, Ardina went six up on Piccio and breezed through to her fourth victory as a pro, including her conquest of the Thai LPGA last February.

She pocketed the top purse of P80,000 with the victory that augured well for her coming stint in the final stage of the LPGA qualifying school where she hopes to clinch an LPGA full card.

“I need some more power and, hopefully, I can get that in workout. I lack 20-30 yards compared to those LPGA regulars,” Ardina said.

Against the local field, Ardina again proved herself much powerful and skillful.

A stroke down after the second round, Guioguio actually drew even as she started with a birdie in the final round of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Guioguio, however, later succumbed to pressures, shooting a six-over-par 78 with three double-bogeys and two bogeys against two birdies to finish joint fourth with Jayvie Agojo at 218.

For her best finish in the tour, the Del Monte bet earned P27,200.

Guioguio fell behind and failed to recover after droving to the fairway bunker then committing a one-stroke penalty for her first double-bogey on hole No. 4.

Piccio won P56,000 for her runner-up finish with a final score of 72-214, two up on third placer Amolkan Phalajivin of Thailand (71-216).

Four-leg winner Cyna Rodriguez came in sixth at 77-221, followed by Chihiro Ikeda (71-222), Lucy Landicho (76-227), Eva Minoza (72-228) and Sarah Ababa (74-228) to round out the Top 10.

Next up for these touring ladies is the ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship on Nov. 26-28.