Ardina moves to joint 7th but trails by 5

MANILA, Philippines -- Dottie Ardina turned in a composed and resilient performance, overcoming an early roller-coaster stretch to card a two-under 70 and move into a share of seventh place after 36 holes of the Orlando Health Championship at Grasslands Golf and Country Club on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).

Ardina mixed birdies with a bogey early but steadied herself just in time, showcasing the poise and experience that have defined her career. At five strokes behind leader Maddie McCrary, the Filipina Olympian remains well within striking distance, especially given her improving form and ability to string together consistent stretches under pressure.

After opening with a birdie on the second hole, she stumbled with a bogey on the next but quickly regrouped, regaining a shot on No. 5. While she missed a couple of birdie opportunities that could have pushed her further up the leaderboard, her ability to minimize mistakes proved crucial.

A clutch birdie on the par-3 No. 10 highlighted her round before she closed with a steady run of pars – an encouraging sign of control heading into the final round.

With a 36-hole total of 141, the ICTSI-backed Ardina has positioned herself as a legitimate contender for a strong finish. If she can find a spark with her putter and capitalize on scoring holes early, a late charge into the top five – or even a podium finish – is well within reach. Her veteran savvy and calm demeanor could prove decisive, particularly if the leaders falter under final-round pressure.

Meanwhile, McCrary surged into the lead with a scorching front-nine 32 en route to a 66 and a 136 aggregate, overtaking first-round leader Mariel Galdiano, who slipped to second after a 71 for 138 as the tournament heads into its final 18 holes of the $250,000 event, the third leg of this year’s Epson Tour.

The rest of the Filipina contingent struggled to keep pace, with only Clariss Guce advancing past the cut after a 73 for a 146 total. Tomi Arejola narrowly missed out despite a late rally, finishing at 147, while Sam Bruce (77) and Pauline del Rosario (76) fell further back with totals of 154 and 155, respectively.