Ardina seeks LPGA redemption
MANILA, Philippines — A missed cut stint last week must’ve given Dottie Ardina ample time to recover her bearing and rhythm following a wobbly performance at Drive On Championship, eyeing no less than a strong finish in this week’s Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.
Two 78s at Inverness Club in Toledo marred Ardina’s attempt to reinforce her ranking in the “reshuffle category” in the LPGA Players standings for regular members but the Canlubang pro is doing her darnest best to turn that early exit into some kind of motivation in the $1.7 million event unfolding Thursday at the Highland Meadows Golf Club.
One of early bets to test the par-71 layout, Ardina hopes to finally put it all together this week, including iron play, recovery shots and short game that she failed to muster in the 54-hole Drive On tournament.
One thing going for her this week is she would have more chances to recover, the Marathon Classic being a 72-hole event capping the back-to-back championships in Ohio marking the re-start of the world’s premier ladies circuit after the global health crisis halted sporting events in mid-March.
Ardina, however, will have to deal with the challenges the Highland Meadows offers, particularly after drawing a late tee-start at 2:10 .m. with Americans Sarah Burnham and Lindsey Weaver.
She also will have to contend with an in-form and fired-up Danielle Kang of the US, who beat Celine Boutier of France by one to snare the Drive On crown and move to world No. 2 in current rankings.
The 154-player field is also boosted by the presence of No. 3 Nelly Korda and fellow fancied Americans Lexi Thompson, Lizette Salas and Jennifer Kupcho, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Aussie Minjee Lee, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, England’s Jodi Shadoff and Swede Madelene Sagstorm along with former Major winners Angela Stanford and Brittany Lang of the US and Swede Pernilla Lindberg.
- Latest
- Trending
