Ardina rallies with 68, climbs back to joint 15th

MANILA, Philippines -- On the verge of an early exit, Dottie Ardina mounted a strong comeback but slowed down late, delivering a 68 to climb to a share of 15th place after two rounds of the IOA Championship at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon on Saturday.

The Olympian now sits seven strokes behind co-leaders Nika Ito and Anna Nordfors. Ardina’s impressive rebound from an opening 73 – which left her hovering around the projected cut line –– underscored her resilience in pursuit of a second Epson Tour title.

Fully aware of the need for a strong round to advance in the 54-hole tournament, the ICTSI-backed campaigner came out firing, birdying four of her first eight holes. A bogey on No. 10 briefly halted her momentum, but she regained her touch with a birdie on the  16th after a string of pars, finishing with a 32-36 card.

Tomi Arejola, however, could not replicate her opening-round form of 70, slipping to a 74. Still, she safely made the cut at 144, one stroke inside the cutoff.

Meanwhile, Pauline del Rosario missed the cut for the third consecutive tournament following her tied ninth-place finish at the Atlantic Beach Classic. After starting strong with a birdie on the second hole, she faltered with a bogey on the third and dropped additional shots on Nos. 8 and 12. A birdie on the par-3 15th offered brief hope, but another bogey on No. 17 sealed a 74 and a 147 total.

Clariss Guce matched del Rosario’s 147 to also miss the cut, while Sam Bruce improved to a 76 after a 79 for a 155 aggregate.