Ikeda, Manalo six shots off Down Under

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda made a three-over par 75 in tough playing condition for a share of 11th place with ICTSI teammate and reigning RP Ladies Open champion Louise Manalo, six shots behind Julia Boland at the start of the Nell Smithett Cup in Victoria, Australia Monday.

It was a fairly good start for the RP ladies, who arrived Down Under only Saturday and had little time familiarizing themselves with the hazard-laden, par-72 Yering Meadows, home of the Croydon Golf Club, made tougher with pot bunkers that are in play in every hole.

Ikeda, one of the spearheads of the ICTSI gold squad, lost two strokes on No. 10 where she teed off from a wild drive and an errant third shot. She bogeyed Nos. 14 and 15 as she continued to struggle on a course that requires consistency off the mound and accurate approach shots on the hard putting surface.

But the 17-year-old Ikeda fought back with back-to-back birdies from No. 5 although she missed the green on the ninth for a 35-40 card.

Boland, playing out of Pennant Hills Golf Club, showed the way with a three-under par 69 for a three-shot lead over Whitney Hillier, who matched par 72. Jayde Panos turned in a 73 for a share of third with Stacy Shanahan and Cara Guest.

Anya Tanpinco also groped for form with a five-over 77 as she fell into a tie for 20th while Sarah Ababa limped home with an 85 for 35th.

The top 36 players after two rounds will advance to the final 36 holes of the event also known as the Victorian 72-hole stroke-play championship.

Meanwhile, Vincent Salvador shot a 72 to lead a 1-2-3 finish by the ICTSI bets in Class A division (15-17 years old) of the Junior Golf tournament at the Navy Golf Club over the weekend.

Kevin Saclot and Alexes both carded 73s for joint second.

Yo Shen Chang topped Class B (12-14) with a 69, beating ICTSI’s Bino dela Paz, who had a 75, while Merakel, another ICTSI bet, made an 80 to take the Class B girls plum over Ann Sabater (81) and Gretchen Villasencio (84). -- end it//thanks