Ardina leads ICTSI sweep

DOTTIE Ardina fought back from a costly bogey on the 18th with a brilliant approach shot that set up six-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole as she nipped Thai Pannarat Thanapunboonyarat to top the 21st SICC-DBS Junior Invitational Golf Championship crown in Singapore Thursday.

Ardina missed clinching the crown outright with a flubbed par-putt bid from seven feet at the end of the 54-hole tournament, settling for a 75 and enabling Thanapunboonyarat to force a sudden death at 219 after a two-over 74.

But the 18-year-old ICTSI The Country Club spearhead hit a superb rescue shot from 185 yards on the first playoff hole to within six feet, then cooly sank the putt to beat her Thai rival, who made a routine par, and clinch the hard-earned win.

“Dottie showed toughness in the playoff,” said ICTSI team coach and former Philippine Ladies Open champion Carmelette Villaroman.

The three-day tournament also saw Sarah Ababa running away with the Class A (17-19) crown with a 225 despite a closing 78 as she beat local bet Joey Poh, who had a 74-237, by 12.

Princess Superal carded a one-over 73 and pooled a 222 to pocket the Class B (13-16) diadem, three shots ahead of Singapore’s Amanda Tan (225).