Ardina settles for 2nd again in Symetra

MANILA, Philippines — Dottie Ardina missed scoring a Symetra Tour breakthrough, bowing to Swede Jenny Haglund on the first playoff hole in the rain-shortened Symetra Classic at the River Run Country Club in Davidson, North Carolina Saturday.

Ardina, who took charge in the first round of the 54-hole tournament with a 69, looked headed for a big win after organizers reduced the event to a 36-hole event due to stormy weather. But needing to par the last three holes at the front to clinch it, the Filipina ace bogeyed No. 7 and finished with a 71.

That forced a playoff at 140 as Haglund completed her second round early on with a 67 spiked by six birdies against a lone bogey. They disputed the crown on the par-5 18th where the Swede ace rolled in a birdie putt from 45 feet out to snare the victory, leaving Ardina frustrated the second time around.

“I really wanted to win this week. But after I bogeyed No. 7, which was my 16th hole, it kind of let me down because I needed to par the last three to get the win,” said Ardina, who also placed second at the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic in South Carolina last week.

“It’s a learning experience. I’ll just try to play good in the next few weeks and hopefully I’ll get my full (LPGA Tour) card for next year,” said Ardina, who flubbed her birdie bid in the playoff from a shorter distance than Haglund.

With a second straight runner-up effort, Ardina proved to be gracious in defeat and vowed to take on the positives as she primes up for her next event, the LPGA Volvik Championship in Michigan beginning Thursday.

“I’ve been playing well since last week so I have to move on,” said Ardina. “It is heart-breaking but I’ll just look forward to my next events.”

US-based Filipina Clariss Guce finished tied for fifth at 144 after a 69 with Thais Prima Thammaraks and Pavarisa Yoktuan sharing third place at 142 after identical 70s.