Dottie Ardina battled back from seven shots down with a record 7-under-par 65 to tie fancied Minjee Lee of Wales for the lead halfway through the Dunes Medal Golf Championship in Rye, Victoria, Australia on Wednesday.
Ardina, who limped home with a windblown 77 in heavy rains in the first round Tuesday, gunned down seven birdies inside seven feet, including five at the back, before picking another shot with a 10-footer on the closing hole of the par-72 Dunes Golf Club layout.
That gave the spearhead of the ICTSI-The Country Club team a 36-hole total of 142 as she forged a three-way tie for the lead with Lee, winner of the Elvie Whitesides crown two weeks ago in Tasmania, and Su Hyun Oh.
Lee settled for an even par 72 after a 70 in the first round while Oh carded a second straight 71 in the four-day championship.
Ardina’s teammate Jayvie Agojo made a 75 and stood 10 shots adrift at 152.
“Dottie’s feeling good about her swing now,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.