Thai frustrates Ardina in playoff, bags PH Ladies crown

LIPA CITY, Batangas—Thai Supamas Sangchan rallied from two strokes down then nipped top Filipino hope Dottie Ardina on the sixth extra hole of their sudden death playoff yesterday to  capture the Champion Infinity Philippine Ladies Open 2013 crown at  Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here.

Ardina, the second-round leader who started the day with a two-stroke lead on Supamas,  missed a par-saving 10-footer on the par-4 No. 1 of Mt. Makulot and the Thai ended the long duel by nailing her par from three feet to clinch the crown of the country’s premier ladies golf  championship presented by Champion Infinity.

The Thai ace, who placed eighth at Wack Wack last year, birdied the par-5 18th in regulation to close out with a 73 for 218 and force the sudden death after Ardina, the ICTSI-The Country Club spearhead, settled for a par and a 75.

The two went par-birdie-par in their first three stints on No. 18 in the playoff before the duel shifted to No. 1 where both made bogeys twice. Then Supamas  came through with a superb pitch that set up the title-clinching three-footer.

It was a sorry setback for the 18-year-old Ardina, who had looked forward to a successful campaign after storming in front with a 72 in demanding condition in the second round of the 54-hole event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines to grab the lead.

But the reigning Taiwan Amateur champion struggled in the final round, succumbing to testy pin placements for a 40 at the turn. A winner of the PH Amateur last week, Ardina had to rally on the final nine to keep her title bid going in the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Inquirer, Coca Cola, Duty Free Phils., Pacsports with support from the Department of Tourism.

Jayvie Agojo, the first round leader, carded a 79 and ended up 11th at 229 while Princess Superal skied to an 83 for 14th at 232.