MANILA, Philippines — Dottie Ardina and Pauline del Rosario both made strong starts in the Indonesian Women’s Open, shooting three-under 69s to sit in a tie for ninth place after the opening round at the Damai Indah Golf BSD Course in Jakarta on Thursday.
The tournament, a part of the $300,000 Korean Ladies Professional Golf Tour (KLPGT), marks the first of two Southeast Asian events newly added to the tour’s schedule.
Ardina, starting her round on No. 10, had a steady day, posting four birdies and one bogey in a 35-34 performance. Del Rosario, also beginning on the 10th tee, registered a bogey-free round with three birdies, finishing with a 34-35 card to match her fellow Philippine golfer.
Local players Cho Jeongmin and Kim Sojeong took the early lead, each firing six-under 66s.
Cho posted three birdies on each nine, while Kim went on a tear with three consecutive birdies starting on the eighth hole. Both players finished their rounds without any bogeys, setting the pace in the 54-hole event.
Korea’s Park Sujin and Thailand’s PK Kongkraphan are one stroke behind, tied for third at five-under 67. Park’s round featured seven birdies and two bogeys, while Kongkraphan’s round included eight birdies but was tempered by three bogeys.
A group of four players—Thailand’s Budsabakorn Sukapan and Jaravee Boonchant, India’s Hitaashee Bakshi, and Malaysia’s Ng Yu Xuan—are tied for fifth place with four-under 68s, leaving the leaderboard tight as the tournament progresses into the second round.
With the top of the leaderboard separated by just two strokes, the race for the title is shaping up to be highly competitive.
Ardina’s round included a birdie on the 10th hole to start, followed by a bogey on the 14th. However, she quickly bounced back with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17, and another on the par-5 No. 5 to close her day on a high note.
Del Rosario had a more consistent round, converting birdies on the 18th, third, and fifth holes, although she missed a couple of birdie opportunities, including one on the long par-5 No. 8.
Other Philippine players struggled in the opening round, with Daniella Uy carding a 73 to tie for 55th, and Princess Superal finishing with a 74 for a tie in 69th place. Chanelle Avaricio ended the day with a 76, tied for 87th, after two birdies were overshadowed by six bogeys.
The Indonesian Women’s Open is co-hosted by the Indonesia Golf Association and the KLPGT, featuring 120 players, including the top 50 qualifiers from the Dream Tour. The ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters is set to follow, running from February 12-14 at The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, expanding the field to 132 participants.