ICTSI Valley Ladies golf on; Ardina fave

DOTTIE Ardina adds star power to the ICTSI Valley Golf Ladies championship that gets going today at the complex’s Executive course in Antipolo, Rizal.

Ardina, who has been campaigning overseas to get into the lucrative US Ladies PGA, plays in the tour for the first time this season and is installed as one of the players to beat in the 54-hole championship.

Mia Piccio, the former amateur standout making her first appearance here as a pro, is expected to crowd Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez for top honors in the P500,000 event.

Thai Amolkan Phalajivin will be gunning to win a second straight championship against a field that also features Jayvie Agojo and Chihiro Ikeda in the tournament backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Ardina won the first two legs of the fledgling tour last year before concentrating on her bid to crash the US LPGA. When she was away, it was Rodriguez who dominated with Agojo and Phalajivin managing to squeeze in wins.

Piccio turned pro overseas and already owns a victory in the LET Access Tour, winning the Oca Aguas Santas Open, a leg in the developmental circuit of the Ladies European Tour.

Cyna gets going in the company of Ardina in the group teeing off 8:30 with Piccio teeing off 20 minutes later together with Phalajivin and amateur Sofia Chabon.