Ikeda, Phl bets dominate Thai Open

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda fired an eagle-spiked, bogey-free five-under 67 to post a three-shot lead over ICTSI teammates Lovelyn Guioguio and Dottie Ardina as the Filipinas dominated the first round action in the Thailand Ladies Open in Bangkok Wednesday.

Ikeda, the reigning SEA Games individual winner, used the 3-wood to keep the ball in play at the tight fairways of Bangkok Golf Club then came through with superb iron shots that set up birdies on Nos. 7, 11 and 15 inside 14 feet.

She then knocked down a 5-iron second shot from 170 yards to within five feet for eagle on the par-5 17th, capping her flawless 35-32 card for the lead in the 54-hole tournament.

“Chihiro played it according to plan, staying out of trouble with her 3-wood off the tee. The course isn’t playing long with hardened fairways but the problem is the rough on both sides of the fairway, so you have to keep the ball in play,” said ICTSI team mentor Bong Lopez.

Three shots off the pace was Guioguio, who bounced back from a two-over card in the early going with two birdies before matching Ikeda’s eagle on the reachable No. 17 for that 70.

Ardina, coming off a gold medal win in the individual side of the recent Queen Sirikit Cup, missed closing in on Ikeda with a couple of missed putts from six feet although she banged in an eight-footer for par on the 18th to save a round of 37-33.

Andie Unson shot a 71, Indonesia’s Jurian matched par 72 while Pinrath carded a 74 to emerge the top Thai scorer in a tie with Jayvie Agojo.

The Filipinas, whose campaign is sponsored by ICTSI, also lorded it over the field in team play as Phl Team 1, composed of Ikeda, Ardina and Agojo, pooled a seven-under 137 to lead Phl Team 2 of Guioguio, Unson and Daniella Uy by four. Thailand hobbled with a 149 as Dolnapa and Jupaporn settled for identical 75s, one of which counted in the three-to-play, two-to-count team event.