Chihiro, Dottie brace for Open title showdown

MANILA, Philippines –  Chihiro Ikeda arranged a showdown with ICTSI teammate Dottie Ardina for the Philippine Ladies Open Amateur Golf Championship crown as she turned in an eagle-aided five-under 67 to grab a one-stroke lead over the erstwhile leader in the second round at The Country Club in Laguna.

Ikeda, seeking to re-claim the crown she won in 2008 at Southwoods, banked on her impeccable iron play and superb putting to rebound from a mediocre 74 Wednesday, pooling a 141 and seizing control of the field, majority of which came in ruffled by the wind that blew from all over yesterday.

Ardina, impressive with her league-leading 70 in the first round, barely survived the ordeal, salvaging an even par 72 that dropped her off the pace but kept her within sight of Ikeda at 142 heading into the final day of the 54-hole tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Bingo Bonanza, Pacsports-Nike Golf and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Korean Sun Hyun Park double-bogeyed the challenging par-4 18th and settled for a 72, missing the chance to get closer at the ICTSI teammates with a 145. But the Eagle Ridge bet will join the fancied duo in the championship flight today, hoping to spoil the Ikeda-Ardina title showdown in the event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils.

Thai ace Juruporn Ayutthaya also wavered at the backside with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch, hobbling with a 74 for a 147 while Cyna Rodriguez virtually kissed her title-retention bid goodbye with a 148, seven strokes off the pace, after a 76.

Rodriguez, who romped away with a seven-stroke victory over Lovelynn Guioguio last year, also at Southwoods, remained in the thick of things with a 35 at the front. But the University of Southern California scholar made two double-bogeys at the back and limped home with a 41 for that four-over card.

“I didn’t want to fall behind too much heading into the final round,” said Ikeda, who with ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez headed straight to the range and practice green Wednesday to tinker with her iron game and putting stroke.

“Luckily, most of my approach shots were on target which led to many birdie chances,” said Ikeda, who rolled in birdie putts inside four feet on Nos. 4, 5 and 14 then knocked down an 8-iron second shot from 135 yards on the par-4 No. 7.

“My eagle on the seventh came as a bonus,” said Ikeda, also the reigning Singapore Ladies Open champion.

While Ikeda dished out a near-flawless stint on the sleek putting surface, the same could not be said of Ardina, who flubbed a short bogey-putt on No. 4 and wound up with a double-bogey and missed another four-footer for par on No. 15.

“I couldn’t get my putting going,” rued Ardina, also gearing up for the defense of her Southern Ladies crown next month in Bacolod. “The greens were faster today than in the first round.”

Guioguio carded a 74 for a 149, Andie Unson also made a 74 for a 150 while veteran Thai campaigner Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, who also finished runner-up to Irina Gabasa in last year’s national amateur championship, struggled with a 75 to drop into a tie with former champion Jayvie Agojo (76) and Princess Superal (75) at 151.

Meanwhile, Chi Hui Chen of Taiwan shot a 79 for a 159 and took a two-shot lead over TCC’s Sun Choi (76-161) in Class A (6-12) division with Ann Therese Sabater of Eastridge scoring a 164 after an 83 for third.

The tournament is backed by Bug Busters, Sky Broadband, RCBC, Absolute, HSBC, Baileys, Inquirer Golf, Chemical Applicators and Co., Inc., De Capricho Jewelers, Gov. Jay Jay C. Suarez of Quezon Province, MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Air 21, Jungolf Phils., EEI, The Mills Country Club, Burger King and Omnisource.