Ardina rallies with 68, climbs back to joint 15th

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 — On the verge of an early exit, Dottie Ardina mounted a strong comeback but slowed down late, delivering a 68 to climb to a share of 15th place after two rounds of the IOA Championship at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon on Saturday.

The Olympian now sits seven strokes behind co-leaders Nika Ito and Anna Nordfors. Ardina’s impressive rebound from an opening 73 – which left her hovering around the projected cut line –– underscored her resilience in pursuit of a second Epson Tour title.

Fully aware of the need for a strong round to advance in the 54-hole tournament, the ICTSI-backed campaigner came out firing, birdying four of her first eight holes. A bogey on No. 10 briefly halted her momentum, but she regained her touch with a birdie on the 16th after a string of pars, finishing with a 32-36 card.

Tomi Arejola, however, could not replicate her opening-round form of 70, slipping to a 74. Still, she safely made the cut at 144, one stroke inside the cutoff.

Meanwhile, Pauline del Rosario missed the cut for the third consecutive tournament following her tied ninth-place finish at the Atlantic Beach Classic. After starting strong with a birdie on the second hole, she faltered with a bogey on the third and dropped additional shots on Nos. 8 and 12. A birdie on the par-3 15th offered brief hope, but another bogey on No. 17 sealed a 74 and a 147 total.

Clariss Guce matched del Rosario’s 147 to also miss the cut, while Sam Bruce improved to a 76 after a 79 for a 155 aggregate.