Ardina cruises to 5-shot romp

Dottie Ardina cracked par for the third straight day, shooting a two-under 70 yesterday to cruise to a five-stroke victory over Mia Piccio in the ICTSI Ladies Valley Golf Challenge at the complex’s Executive course in Antipolo, Rizal.

Priming up for another shot at the US LPGA in December, Ardina fired three birdies before closing with a meaningless bogey on the 54th hole after all her pursuers had already failed to mount a rally.

Ardina finished with a 209 total over the relatively easy layout of Valley Golf, with Piccio matching par for 214.

“I just believed in myself,” said Ardina, the overnight leader by one over Lovelyn Guioguio, who cracked under tremendous final-round pressure and returned a 78 that relegated her to a tie for fourth place with Jayvie Agojo at 218.

Amolkan Phalajivin of Thailand, who ended Cyna Rodriguez’s string of wins with a triumph at Splendido last month, fired a 71 to secure third place at 216. Agojo fired a 72.

Rodriguez closed out with a 77 for 221, her worst finish on tour.

Amateur Sofia Chabon shot a 75 to catch Rodriguez at 221.

Guioguio actually caught up with Ardina right on the first hole with a birdie, only to lose her grip of her game the rest of the way. She would go on to sign for nines of 38-40.

Ardina regained the lead with a birdie on No. 3, before pulling away when Guioguio double bogeyed the fourth and dropped another shot on the sixth.

“Even as Lovelyn struggled, I continued to focus on my game,” Ardina said. “I just wanted to make birdies and go under-par.”