Ardina, Rodriguez stay in US Am hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina matched par 72 and stood in joint 16th place at the start of the stroke play elims of the US Women’s Amateur at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio Monday.

Ardina mixed two birdies with two bogeys while flubbing a couple of makeable birdie putts as she fell six strokes behind New Zealand’s world No. 1 Lydia Ko, who stamped her class with a fiery six-under 66.

Cyna Rodriguez sputtered coming home and hobbled with a two-over 74 for a share of 48th while Jayvie Agojo, the other ICTSI-backed bet who passed through the sectional qualifier last month, wavered with a four-over 76 and would need a low round Tuesday to clinch a spot in the match play phase.

The top 64 players after two rounds of medal play will advance to the knockout stage of the annual event featuring the world’s leading amateur players.

Allison Lee of the US shot a four-under 68 to tie Hyo Joo Kim of Korea while Canada’s Brook Henderson fired a 69 to put herself in contention for low medal honors.