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Dottie
Ardina debuted in the Laura Diaz FCWT (Future Collegians
World Tour) with a flourish, firing rounds of 72 and 71
to win the Eagle Creek Open by a whopping nine-stroke
victory over local bet Yueer Feng in Orlando, Florida,
Sunday.
Ardina’s
lopsided triumph came on the heels of Mia Piccio’s
come-from-behind win in the World Woods Open of the
Laura Diaz FCWT last month where she closed out with 70
and turned back Sally Watson of Scotland by one stroke
in Brooksville, Florida
The
13-year-old Ardina stamped her class early in the
36-hole tournament, gunning down four birdies in the
first round Saturday and tying for most pars with 11 at
the par-73 Eagle Creek Golf Club.
She
began the final round with a five-stroke lead over
Jessica Alexander of Riverview, Florida, who also made
11 pars in the first 18 holes. But Alexander fumbled
with a 79 in the last round and dropped to joint third
with Karen Chung (82-74) of New Jersey at 156.
Sustaining her form, Ardina shot the low round of
two-under 71 for a 143 as she sealed the win in her
first FCWT event, a venue for young men and women in
their pursuit of earning a college scholarship through
competitive golf.
Feng,
who made a 79 in the first round, rallied with a 73 to
finish second at 152.
Ardina,
winner of four international titles this year and who
played for two tournaments in the European Ladies Pro
Tour before heading to the US, led in birdies with eight
and pars with 23 for the weekend.
She has
now earned exempt status for the remainder of the season
and an exemption to the National Championship in May.
Meanwhile, Ferdie Aunzo closed out with 75 and 72 to
place 15th with a 295 in the Central Gauteng Amateur
Open won by Ryan Clarke with a 282 at the Kensington
Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa Sunday.
Mike
Bibat had 76 and 74 for a 299 for joint 31st while
Anthony Fernando wound up 33rd with a 300 after 75 and
74 in the last two rounds. |
