Ardina struggles with birdie-less 75

MANILA, Philippines — Dottie Ardina groped for form against Royal Adelaide Golf Club’s sleek putting surface and wobbled with a birdie-less 75, tumbling down from joint eighth to a share of 31st after three rounds of the Women’s Australian Open in South Australia yesterday.

As multi-titled Korean Inbee Park sustained her hot charge and took solo control at 204 after a 68, Ardina struggled on the firmed up surface, flubbing a couple of birdie chances and bogeying Nos. 4 and 12 to virtually bow out of the title hunt after putting herself in the mix with back-to-back three-under 70s.

At 215, the Canlubang pro fell 11 strokes behind Park, who birdied three of the last four holes to spike a pair of 34s and into the solo lead as erstwhile joint leader Jodi Shadoff shot herself in the foot with a 77 and dropped to joint 22nd at 213.

That enabled Park, whose 19 LPGA Tour victories include seven major titles, to seize a big three-stroke lead over compatriot Ayean Cho, who broke a two-birdie, two-bogey game after eight holes with four birdies to emerge the most consistent player in the elite field with a third straight 69 and a 207.

The ICTSI-backed Ardina failed to land a single birdie after hitting nine against three bogeys in the first two days, finishing with 32 putts after an impressive 28-25 stints in the first 36 holes.

Earlier, Yuka Saso finally found her range and rhythm and fired a 70, jumping from a share of last to joint 39th at 216, still 12 shots off Park but with a shot at a Top 20 finish in the $1.3 million event serving as her first pro tournament.

After a missed cut stint in the Handa Vic Open last week and 75-71 rounds this week, the 2018 Asian Games double gold medalist gunned down three birdies in the first 12 holes.