Ikeda, Ababa advance in WWGA tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Low medalist Chihiro Ikeda followed up her elims feat with a convincing 7&6 rout of Samantha O’Donnell to cruise into the second round of match play event in the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) 83rd National Junior Championship at Hope Valley Country Club in Durham, North Carolina Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Ikeda, who outclassed the field with rounds of 67-68 to post an eight-shot romp in the 36-hole stroke play elims, made two birdies and a slew of pars against a bogey to dominate O’Donnor and arrange a Last 16 clash with Vivian Tsui of Canada.

Tsui outlasted Laura Wearn of Charlotte over 19 holes but will have her hands full against the power-hitting Ikeda, who is hoping to match ICTSI teammate Dottie Ardina’s title romp in last week’s PNGA (Pacific Northwest Golf Association) Championship in Oregon.

Sarah Ababa, the other ICTSI-backed bet, hurdled Emily Wright, 3&2, to set up a second round clash with Katie Kirk.

Winners in the morning match will advance to the quarterfinals in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, five North Carolina bets advanced to the next round, including Ababa’s next opponent Kirk, who bundled out Ashley Osiecki, 4&3. Kirk was a first team member of the 2008 North Carolina junior girl’s golf squad and winner of the North Carolina 4A High School West Regional Championship.

Second seed Courtney Taylor trounced Kaitlin Voll of Georgia, 3&2, and will square off with Brittany Marchard of Canada in the lower half of the draw. Marchard held off Kari Bellville of Indiana, 3&1.

Taylor was the 2008 Carolina Golf Association Junior Girl match play champion and won the Dogwood State Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Courtney McKim, winner of the 2008 Randy Wise AJGA tournament, defeated Minami Levonovich of South Carolina, 5&4.