Ardina trails by 6

Dottie Ardina stumbled in a frontside finish at sundown and settled for a oneunder par 71 for joint 53rd at the start of the $1.1 million Handa Vic Open paced by England’s Felicity Johnson in Victoria, Southeastern Australia yesterday.

Ardina recovered from an early bogey on No. 13 with three birdies in the next four holes at the Beach Course, sparking hopes for a big start on the LPGA Tour as a full-card holder.

She dropped another stroke on No. 1 and though she regained it with a birdie on No. 4, the 25-year-old Canlubang pro missed the ninth green for the sixth time she went out of regulation and failed to return a six-footer to finish with a 37-34 card at one of the two courses with a bogey-free eight-under 65.