String of birdies can’t help Dottie Ardina

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino pro Dottie Ardina, burdened by poor start, bowed out of the LA Open with a three-over 74 and finished four strokes below the cutoff line in the $1.5 million event paced by Aussie Minjee Lee at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles Friday.

Hard-pressed to come up with a low round after an opening 75, Ardina fell farther back with a 38 start in the second round at the par-71 layout. But she suddenly caught fire with three birdies in the first six holes at the back to spark hopes of a big fightback and a possible stint in the weekend play.

But just when she thought she had gained the momentum and confidence, the ICTSI-backed bet double bogeyed the tough par-4 16th and holed out with another bogey on the par-3 closing hole to tumble to joint 104th in a field of 143.

Ardina, 25, had hoped to contend this week following a 47th place effort in Lotte in Hawaii that ended a string of missed cut stints in the early going of the LPGA Tour season.

Lee, meanwhile, shot a 69 to grab the lead at 135, a stroke ahead of Nanna Koerstz of Denmark, who bounced back with a 67 for a 136 while American Morgan Pressel fired a 66 to tie Gaby Lopez, who carded a 68, at 137.

Seven players made the 65 plus ties cut at 145.