Dottie Ardina tops Thai Am Open

Dottie Ardina primed herself up for next month’s SEA Games, closing out with a one-under 71 and routing the field with a 10-shot victory over Thai Asama McKenzie and ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda for the Thailand Amateur Open crown at the Panya Indra Golf Club in Bangkok Friday.

Five-up at the start of the final round, the 17-year-old Ardina gave her rivals no room for a comeback as she birdied three of the first 12 holes to pull away for good and book her fifth victory in the season.

The win underscored Ardina’s readiness for the SEA Games in Indonesia where she, along with Ikeda and Andie Unson, will spearhead the country’s title-retention drive in the biennial meet where Ikeda is also the defending individual champion.

“I am very glad to win in my first stint here,” said Ardina, who set the pace with an opening 69.

Ardina actually sputtered coming home with back-to-back bogeys from No. 13 but those mishaps only held the top ICTSI bet from posting a bigger margin.

The reigning Queen Sirikit Cup individual champion wound up with a four-under 284 total, 10 shots ahead of McKenzie (73) and Ikeda (75).

Dethroned champion Yupaporn Kawinpakorn never got herself into contention, finishing with a 77 for joint eighth at 299. Lovelynn Guioguio limped with a 77 and ended up in 15th place with a 304 while Sarah Ababa skied to an 82 for joint 16th at 305.

Lloyd Go fired a six-under 66 to snatch seventh place in the men’s competition with a 284, seven behind Natipong Srithong’s winning 277.