DESPITE missing earning a full LPGA status by a stroke, Dottie Ardina expressed satisfaction over her joint 21st place finish, enabling her to regain her tour card and play in 10-15 LPGA events next year.
“Thank God I got my LPGA card again,” Ardina posted on her facebook page, which drew close to 300 likes after the grueling five-day LPGA Qualifying Tournament Final Stage in Florida Sunday.
Only the top 20 players gained full exempt Category 12 status for next year’s LPGA Tour but the ICTSI-backed Ardina was ranked high enough in Category 17 (21st to 45th) to be able to play in 10-15 LPGA events next year.
Only Regina de Guzman, a San Jose State U graduate, from among the six Filipinas who vied for LPGA cards made the grade with a joint 14th finish.
According to coach Bong Lopez, Ardina’s goal is to make enough money on the events that she will compete in to be able get her card with full exempt status after the re-ranking held mid-year of each LPGA calendar.
“She still keeps her full exempt card on the Symetra Tour (22-24 events), the farm league of the LPGA Tour. If she finishes among the Top 10, she’ll be in Category 12 (full exempt of the LPGA Tour), except for the Majors,” said Lopez.
The other former The Country Club stalwarts – Princes Superal, Mia Piccio and Cyna Rodriguez – also earned full exempt status on the Symetra Tour where they also hope to make good and finish in the Top 10 at the end of the 2017 season for automatic cards for the 2018 LPGA Tour.
“The road to LPGA is really tough, but the girls have very good status for next year and can still have available options to get their LPGA card for 2017,” said Lopez.
Meanwhile, Superal and Rodriguez are also eligible to play on Monday qualifiers in all 2017 LPGA events with both eyeing a solid start next year to earn enough money by re-rank time.