Ardina leads by 3, nears maiden win in El Dorado

Dottie Ardina took a step closer to ending a long search for a maiden victory on the Symetra Tour, firing a second straight five-under 67 and gaining a three-stroke lead over Frenchwoman Celine Boutier with one round left in the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout at Mystic Creek Golf Club in Arkansas, USA Saturday.

Sustaining her awesome form through 36 holes, the Filipina ace bounced back strong from a bogey mishap on No. 2 with four straight birdies from No. 4 then added two more at the back to virtually match her solid 33-34 card in the opener of the 54-hole $100,000 championship.

Unlike in her flawless round Friday, Ardina struggled with her iron shots but leaned on her impeccable short game and superb putting in the second round to press her bid for a first pro career win in the US.

“It was a little more interesting than yesterday (first round). I think I only hit 10 greens so I had to save pars today,” said Ardina. “I’ve been putting well and just trying to keep it simple.” With a 10-under 134 aggregate, Ardina moved three shots clear of Boutier, who followed up her opening 68 with a 69 for a 137 while Englishwoman Charlotte Thomas shot a 68 and took solo third at 139.

Erstwhile co-leader Rachel Rohanna of the US hobbled with a 74 after a 67 and dropped to joint fourth at 141, now seven shots behind Ardina.

Other three-under par overall scorers were Carlie Yadloczky of the US (67), Chinese Yu Liu (68), Csicsi Rozsa of Hungary (69).

If Ardina, 23, wins, she would become just the second Filipina to win on the Symetra Tour after Lynda Jenson, who won once in 1985 and twice in 1988.

But while Ardina zeroed in on her first crown, compatriots Clariss Guce (76-153) and Mia Piccio (77-155) missed the cut at 150.

Ardina actually missed the green on No. 1 but saved a par and after missing to return a six-footer for her first bogey in two days, the many-time ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour winner rattled off four straight birdies from No. 4, then gunned down two more birdies on Nos. 13 and 16 before closing out with pars, finishing with just 25 putts.

“I’ve just made one mistake in 36 holes which is pretty good,” said Ardina. “If the hole locations are tucked, I’m just playing for the middle. As long as I have a birdie putt, I’m fine with it.”

Ardina had led by three in the Four Winds Invitational two years go but struggled in the final round, enabling Brooke Henderson to snatch the win.

“I just want to play like I did in the first two rounds. My putter and iron shots have been key this week,” said Ardina.