Ardina fades late as Kim snatches Copper Rock crown

MANILA, Philippines -- What initially seemed a promising title run turned into a crushing disappointment for Dottie Ardina, who unraveled with a disastrous back-nine showing to finish tied for 11th in the Copper Rock Championship won by Gina Kim in come-from-behind fashion in Hurricane, Utah on Saturday (Sunday Manila time.)

Ardina appeared poised to reclaim the crown she won in 2022, making early birdies on Nos. 1 and 6 in the final round to pull within a shot of overnight leader Melanie Green at 13-under. With momentum on her side and the title in reach, Ardina looked set to deliver another inspired performance at the Copper Rock Golf Course.

However, the pressure soon took its toll. A bogey on the par-4 eighth triggered a chain reaction of costly errors. Ardina bogeyed the 10th and 11th, dropped another shot on No. 13, and capped her collapse with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17.

She signed for a five-over-par 77, finishing at 210 – seven strokes behind Kim.

Backed by ICTSI and a veteran of the Paris Games, Ardina had stirred hope for a second Epson Tour title. She entered the final day just two strokes behind co-leaders Green and Hailee Cooper after a strong second round.

Her opening six holes Saturday bolstered expectations, but the sharp descent from contention highlighted the brutal nature of tournament golf under pressure.

The final round saw several frontrunners falter, opening the door for Kim to stage a composed and opportunistic comeback. Starting three shots behind the leaders, Kim birdied three of the first four holes and matched Ardina at 13-under after the front nine.

As others stumbled, Kim stayed steady. Birdies on Nos. 11 and 13 propelled her into the lead. Though she dropped shots on two of the last four holes, her even-keeled play proved enough. She closed with a 69 for a 203 total, one stroke clear of Spain’s Carla Tejedo Mulet and Green.

Mulet had a chance to force a playoff but fumbled with a bogey on the 18th, settling for a 72 and a share of second with Green at 204. Green, who had held steady with a birdie on No. 1 and a string of pars, imploded with a double bogey on the ninth.

Despite a birdie on 15, she couldn’t recover, ending her round with a 73.

Hailee Cooper matched Green’s early birdie to stay in contention but immediately followed with a double bogey on No. 2 and a bogey on the next. She managed three birdies mid-round but offset them with four bogeys, ending up with a 75 to finish fourth at 206.

For Ardina, the Copper Rock finale was a bitter pill – what began as a real shot at redemption instead ended in missed opportunities and a late-round mishap.

In contrast, Kim’s poised and calculated finish underlined the importance of staying cool when chaos strikes.