Ikeda rallies with 68, winds up joint fifth

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda put on an awesome finish of six-under par 68 as the Philippines rallied to shoot a five-under 143 and finish joint fifth in the Queen Sirikit Cup ruled by Korea in wire-to-wire fashion in Bali, Indonesia late Friday.

Fighting back from so-so 77 in the second round, Ikeda hit her stride and came through with a slew of birdies to string nines of 34-34 for that 68.

She drew a 75 from Louise Manalo as Team RP closed out with a 143, the best in the final day, for a 54-hole aggregate of 439 in a tie with Australia, which had a 146.

Cyna Rodriguez, who counted for the ICTSI-backed team, whose campaign was sanctioned by the WGAP (Women’s Golf Association of the Phils.) with a 72 in the first round, failed to count with a 76.

Korea capped its domination of the field despite a closing 145 as it romped off with a 10-shot victory over Taiwan with a 28-under 416 total. The Taiwanese had a 426 after a 146.

Thailand wound up seventh with a 441 after a 152.

Japan took third place with a 435 after a 149 while China wound up fourth with a 437 after a 148.

The Philippines thus improved a bit from a sixth place finish last year in Japan on a team also built around Ikeda, Rodriguez and Manalo.

Ikeda, 17, ended fourth in the individual race with 70, 77 and 68 for a seven-under 215.

Korea took the top two places with Jang Ha-na scoring 207 after a 72 for the gold and Kim Sei-young took the silver with a 209 after a 73. Taiwan’s Hsuan Yu Yao finished with a 71 for third with a 211.