Ikeda 3 off pace in Mission Hills

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda birdied the par-5 17th to salvage a three-over par 75 and trail local bet Danielle Gillaspy by three strokes at the start of the Mission Hills Gary Player Classic at the Mission Hills North - Player course at The Westin in California Saturday.

Ikeda, who finished sixth in Mission Inn Challenge and settled for fourth in Red Tail Golf Open of the FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour), struggled in the first 11 holes with two bogeys and a double-bogey but picked herself up with a slew of pars and a birdie on No. 17 for a 39-36 card.

That put the 17-year-old ICTSI golf scholar within two shots of Gillaspy, who closed out with a birdie-birdie feat to match par-72 on the challenging layout.

She took a two-stroke lead over Devon Brown of Sante Fe, who bounced back from a four-over card after four holes with a 34 at the back for a 74.

Sarah Jane Ababa wavered at the back with two bogeys and a double-bogey as she wound up with a 76 to tie Paige Spiranac in third while Louise Manalo, the other ICTSI-backed bet, stood in seventh place with a 78 with seven bogeys against a birdie.