Ardina bags title in Utah

MANILA, Philippines, April 25 ------ Filipina ace Dottie Ardina scored a career breakthrough as she won the Copper Rock Championship in the Epson Tour by two strokes yesterday in Hurricane, Utah. Saving her best for last, Ardina closed out with a bogey-free seven-under 65 to complete her come-from-behind triumph in the 54-hole event at five-under 211. It was the lowest winning score after five events in the tour, which earned for the 28-year-old parbuster a cool $30,000 (P1.57 million).

Ardina, a former amateur standout, struck gold after 18 Top 10 finishes in the circuit. She made the cut five times in 21 starts in the premier LPGA Tour. “I wanted to have fun out there and my goal was 5-under to have a chance. But 7-under is even better,” said Ardina. After back-to-back 73s, Ardina turned in a hot 33-32 round that powered her to the summit over Spaniard Marta Sanz Barrio (67) and Israli Laeticia Beck (68), who finished at 213. With a 267-yard average off the tee, Ardina hit all 14 fairways and reached all but three greens in regulation.

Source: philstar.com