FILIPINA ace Dottie Ardina scored a career breakthrough as she won the Copper Rock Championship in the Epson Tour by two strokes on Saturday in Hurricane, Utah.
Saving her best for last, Ms. Ardina closed out with a bogey-free seven-under 65 to complete her come-from-behind triumph in the 54-hole event at five-under 211.
It was the lowest winning score after five events in the tour, which earned for the 28-year-old parbuster a cool $30,000 (P1.57 million).
Ms. Ardina, a former amateur standout, struck gold after 18 Top 10 finishes in the circuit. She made the cut five times in 21 starts in the premier Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
“I wanted to have fun out there and my goal was 5-under to have a chance. But 7-under is even better,” said the newly-minted champ.
After back-to-back 73s, Ms. Ardina turned in a hot 33-32 round that powered her to the summit over Spaniard Marta Sanz Barrio (67) and Israli Laeticia Beck (68), who finished at 213.
With a 267-yard average off the tee, Ms. Ardina hit all 14 fairways and reached all but three greens in regulation. She only needed 26 putts to complete the round highlighted by birdies on Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13 and 18.
“I’ve played good golf the last few years and knew I was due. I wasn’t expecting it this week because of the weather but took advantage of how nice it was today,” she said.
Ms. Ardina sealed it with a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 and made two fist pumps in celebration.
“I kept saying to myself, ‘calm down, calm down, put a good stroke on it and you’ll make the putt.’ I did not look at the leaderboard until No. 18,” said the pride of Canlubang.
“I kept my focus on the line for the putt and as soon as it hit the spot I wanted, that’s when I did the fist pumps because I knew it was going in.”
Compatriot Clariss Guce wound up in share of 14th at 218 after a final 69. Ms. Guce netted $3,252 (P170,000).
Over in the LPGA Tour, Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso banked on an eagle to salvage a two-over 74 in the third round of the LA Open in California on Saturday.
Ms. Saso limped go five-over after 13 holes but holed in an eagle on No. 14 and two birdies sandwiching a bogey from the 16th to the 18th to get her total to 2-over 215.
The reigning US Women’s Open champ, who had earlier cards of 75 and 66, dropped 30 places to joint 49th — far away from the contenders led by Japanese leader Nasa Hataoka (202 after a 67). — Olmin Leyba