Ardina battles back to snatch Kinabalu crown

Dottie Ardina rallied from two strokes down to outsteady ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda with a closing 69 and capture the 10th Karambunai Amateur Open 2010 by three strokes at the Nexus Golf Club and Resort in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.

Ardina, the reigning Southern Ladies champion, capped her fightback with a birdie on the 18th for nines of 34-35 and a 54-hole total of 213. She also had a 69 and a 75 in the first two rounds.

Ikeda, the overnight leader and the tournament winner in 2008, reeled back with a double-bogey 6 on No. 14 and wound up with a 74-216, five clear of ICTSI teammate Jayvie Agojo, who had a 72.

Recently crowned Malaysian Junior Open winner Sarah Ababa finished fourth on 72-223, two ahead of Lovelynn Guioguio (75-225) and three clear of Malaysian Diana Tham (75-226).

The Filipinos failed to complete a sweep, however, as two-day leader Dante Becierra limped home with 78, enabling 

Malaysian Lam Yu Shuen to snatch the win with a 226 after a 73.

Becierra fell to third on 228, a shot off Peter Villaber, who had a 75.