Ardina lurks at Epson Tour; Saso crashes out at LPGA

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 struggled to find her rhythm and distance, settling for a one-under 71 to trail early leader Mariel Galdiano by four strokes at the start of the Orlando Health Championship at the Grasslands Golf and Country Club on Friday (Saturday Manila time).

Ardina had difficulty creating birdie chances and failed to capitalize on the few opportunities she had. The ICTSI-backed campaigner birdied Nos. 6 and 18 but dropped a shot on the fourth hole, ending the day tied for 17th alongside 12 others.

Galdiano, meanwhile, surged ahead with a four-under 67, highlighted by birdies on two of her final three holes, to take a one-shot lead over Katherine Muzi, who carded a 68.

Six players, including Sofia Garcia and Liqi Zeng, returned identical 69s, keeping the leaderboard tightly packed in the $250,000, 54-hole Epson Tour event.

The rest of the Filipino contingent struggled in challenging conditions. Clariss Guce bogeyed the final hole to finish with a 72 and drop to joint 30th, while Tomi Arejola faltered late with three bogeys after a promising start, settling for a 73 and a share of 48th.

Sam Bruce carded a 75, while Pauline del Rosario struggled to a 79, putting both on the brink of missing the cut, projected at one-over par after 36 holes.

Over at the LPGA’s Founders Cup in California, Yuka Saso’s promising comeback bid unraveled as she followed an opening 69 with a disappointing 77, missing the cut by two strokes with a 146.

Saso, whose campaign is also supported by the world’s leading port operator, started strong, birdying Nos. 1, 5 and 8 to climb into contention at six-under. But a disastrous closing stretch saw her collapse with an eight-shot swing over the final six holes.

After steady play through the early back nine, she bogeyed the 14th, triple-bogeyed the next, and added a double bogey on No. 17. Another costly double bogey on the closing hole sealed a 44 on the back nine – one of the toughest stretches of her career – turning a potential Top 3 position into an early exit.

Ina Yoon, a Solaire ambassadress, also struggled with a 76 after an opening 68 but managed to make the cut at even par.

At the top, Hyo Joo Kim slowed with a 70 but maintained a commanding four-shot lead at 133. Gaby Lopez stood in second at 137 after a 70.

Meanwhile, World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 2 Nelly Korda made strong moves into contention, both reaching 138 after rounds of 66 and 68, respectively.