Dottie Ardina is six behind the lead in Women's Amateur Championship
The first round of the qualifying stage of the Women's Amateur Championship is over and Dottie Ardina is following the leader with a deficit of six strokes.
The Philippines player shot a great 72 but was no match for Lydia Ko, who finished the round with a final score of 66. This performance has been praised by many observers but some feel that Ardina could have improved her score, if she had not hit the bogeys.
She finished the front nine with a strong score of 35, which included two birdies on the third and the ninth holes. This score was clouded by the bogey on the fifth hole that reduced the score by one stroke, effectively negating one of the birdies.
The back nine was a completely different story. Ardina gave away her advantage, sinking three bogeys on the 12th, 15th and the 17th holes.
This disadvantage was somewhat compensated by her birdies on the 14th and the 16th holes but the final score had been reduced irreparably.
The final ranking saw Dottie Ardina in the 16th place, a low place considering her four birdies. However, she has not lost out in the tournament and still has a very good chance of making through the two-day elimination stage.
If she manages to go through the stage, she will play a tough tournament. The US Women’s Amateur Championship is considered to be the most prestigious international event for amateurs.
There is a very good reason why many amateurs fail to make it through to the final rounds.
The qualifying stage is tough enough where many amateurs lose their matches. Those who make the cut after that, play in the 36 hole stroke play event that tests the skills of the amateurs to the limit.
The tournament is not over at this point. The players then play a six-round match play that is a test of golf prowess of the participants.
If Dottie Ardina makes it to the later stages, she will have to play against the top talent of the amateur golf world. With players like Lydia Ko, Alison Lee and Ariya Jutanugarn, she stands a slim chance of winning.
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