MANILA, Philippines - ICTSI golf scholar Chihiro Ikeda bucked poor putting to card an even par 72 as she settled for a share of the lead with Mexico’s Paola Valerio at the start of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Thursday.
Ikeda, 17, actually blew a two-shot lead after bogeying two of the last three holes for a 35-37 card, enabling Valerio to grab a piece of the lead in the premier girls’ 16-18 division of the annual championship.
While Ikeda, runner-up here last year, faltered at the finish, Valerio recovered, sinking two birdies in the last seven holes to string nines of 37-35.
Still, it was a good start for the Fil-Japanese shotmaker, priming up for the country’s campaign in the inaugural Putra Cup (women’s division) in Thailand on Aug. 18-21, although a host of other stood just a shot or two behind the joint leaders, ensuring a wide-open battle for top honors in the next three rounds.
She knocked in a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 1 to open her campaign then tapped in for another birdie on the seventh to get her game going. But Ikeda three-putted No. 8, banged in another 8-foot birdie putt on the 11th but three-putted again on No. 16 before holing out with a missed-green bogey.