Ardina goes for 2nd straight Southern Ladies golf crown

MURCIA, Negros Occidental – Dottie Ardina begins her title-retention bid in the 48th Southern Ladies Golf Championship at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club starting Thursday. The 17-year-old Ardina won last year's title in Iloilo when she defeated best friend Chihiro Ikeda in a down-the-wire finish. The two top amateurs could meet again in a thrilling match-up at the narrow-fairway, tree-lined layout of the BGCC's Binitin course. "It was a hard-earned win. It's really tough playing against Chihiro (Ikeda). Hopefully, this time, I will have three good rounds and avoid the same situation last year," Ardina said. While the Ardina-Ikeda duel is expected, The Country Club Invitational low amateur winner Andrea Unson will try to play the spoiler's role when she guns for her maiden victory in the 54-hole tournament organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP). "I think Andie (Unson) has a big chance because her ball striking is solid and she is playing with a lot of confidence and putts well," said national women's golf team coach Bong Lopez. Former Philippine Ladies Amateur Open champion Jayvie Agojo, Lovelynn Guioguio, Sunshine Baraquiel and Sarah Jane Ababa are the other serious contenders bidding to stop Ardina's reign. Aside from the championship division, also on tap are the 36-hole team competition and the seniors division which will be under the Stableford scoring system (net of handicap). – Adrian Flores, JVP, KY, GMANews.TV