Dottie Ardina lit up the front nine with three birdies on Friday to post a one-under-par 71 and keep abreast with the leaders halfway through the Foxconn TLPGA Players Championship at the Orient Golf and Country Club.
The lone Filipina in the Taiwan meet is now just four strokes behind the leader entering the weekend, preserving her shot at the $1-million tournament at Taoyuan City.
Ardina birdied Nos. 1, 2 and 6 to cushion her bumpy back-nine where she bogeyed 14 and 18. It was enough to keep her at shared seventh place with even-par 144.
She had a 73 on opening day.
The 30-year-old Ardina, who has been playing mainly at Epson Tour and occasionally at LPGA, just opened her season, opting to see action near home.
South Korea’s Im Jin-hee finished with a 73 but held the leadership by just one stroke with 140 total.
Japan’s Haruka Kawasaki fired a 69, while Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yu-ju made a 71 to share second place at 141.
Thailand’s Patcharajutar Kongkraphan is at solo fourth at 142.
