Last-hole eagle gives Ikeda two-shot romp

MANILA, Philippines – Chihiro Ikeda eagled the par-4 18th to close out with a four-under par 68 as she led a rare sweep of the top three places by the ICTSI-backed Philippine bets in the FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour) circuit at the Mission Hills North Player course at The Westin in California Sunday.

Ikeda fought back from three shots behind Danielle Gillaspy of California with three birdies in the first 10 holes, fumbled with a bogey on No. 15 before holing out with that eagle to complete a solid 34-34 card.

She wound up with a 143 for a two-shot romp over Sarah Ababa as Ikeda, winner of five titles last year, claimed her first championship in the season after finishing sixth in Mission Inn Challenge and fourth in the Red Tail Golf Open two weeks ago.

Ababa also rallied from four strokes down to record her best finish so far, a runner-up effort behind a closing 69 that featured four birdies against a bogey for a 145. She placed third in the San Ramon Open, made a couple of fourth place finishes in Terra Lago and Mission Inn Challenge and wound up fifth in the Red Tail Open.