Ardina eyes strong follow-up in Orlando Championship

Dottie Ardina of the Philippines looks on from the seventh green during the second round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 15, 2024 in Belleair, Florida.

Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Dottie Ardina looks to build on a strong finish last week as she tees off in the Orlando Health Championship beginning Friday (Saturday Manila time) at the Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland, Florida.

Ardina starts her campaign at 8:33 a.m. on the par-3 No. 10 of the par-72 layout, paired with American Dorsey Addicks and Canada’s Savannah Grewal.

The seasoned campaigner heads into the $250,000 Epson Tour event with renewed confidence after closing out with a 67 to salvage a joint 12th-place finish at the IOA Golf Classic in Florida last week, underscoring her readiness to contend this weekend.

Backed by ICTSI, Ardina is determined to figure in the title race in the 54-hole championship as she eyes a second Epson Tour title. Her breakthrough victory came at the Copper Rock Championship in 2022, and she believes it is only a matter of time — and the right breaks — before she finds herself back in the winner’s circle.

Also seeking redemption are fellow ICTSI-backed bets led by Pauline del Rosario, along with Clariss Guce, Tomi Arejola and Sam Bruce.

Del Rosario is eager to bounce back from a missed cut at the IOA Classic after an impressive joint ninth-place effort in the season-opening Atlantic Beach Classic, also held in Florida.

Arejola aims to improve on her tied-for-41st finish, while Guce and Bruce are likewise looking to make their mark as the Filipina contingent pushes for a strong showing early in the tour season.

Arejola tees off at 9:17 a.m. on No. 10 alongside Canada’s Mary Parsons and American amateur Kaley Amuson.

Guce, meanwhile, has a late start at 1:13 p.m. on the back nine with American Julia Gregg and Mexico’s Lauren Olivarez.

Del Rosario tees off at 2:08 p.m. on No. 1 with Hong Kong’s Chloe Chan and England’s Amelia Williamson, while Bruce goes out at the same time on No. 10, paired with France’s Emma Broze and Germany’s Christin Eisenbeiss.