Ikeda nips Guioguio for Thai Ladies plum

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda rallied from four shots down with two birdies in the last six holes then pounced on ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio’s triple-bogey mishap on the final hole to snatch a one-stroke victory in the Thailand Ladies Open at Bangkok Golf Club in Thailand Friday.

Ikeda also holed out with a bogey on the tough par-4 closing hole but her one-under 71 was enough to propel her to the win as she pooled a 54-hole aggregate of 214, adding the crown to her long list of victories that included a SEA Games gold medal and the Philippine Ladies Open crown last January.

Dottie Ardina, recent winner of the Queen Sirikit Cup individual title, fired a 70 and edged Guioguio in the countback for runner-up honors at 215. The second round leader hobbled home with a 73, blowing away her title bid with that final-hole meltdown.

“It’s nice to win again. I just stayed focused and never lost hope even if I fell behind by as many as four strokes at the back. I just kept on going,” said Ikeda.

Guioguio also kept going, even hiking her overnight one-shot lead to four after Ikeda three-putted No. 12 for double-bogey. But Guioguio dropped a stroke on the next hole which Ikeda birdied for a two-shot swing then yielded another stroke when she bogeyed No. 16 after missing the green.

Still, Guioguio took a one-shot lead heading to the 18th after both players birdied the 17th but she pulled her 3-wood tee shot into the water hazard and dumped her third shot into the greenside bunker, giving Ikeda the chance to steal the win.

The Fil-Japanese shotmaker reached the green in regulation but three-putted from 25 feet then watched Guioguio blow it all with a flubbed double-bogey putt from just about three-feet.

“It was a big win for Chihiro, who didn’t give up until the final hole. She was really determined to win this one even when she fell behind by four,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Jayvie Agojo shot the day’s best score of four-under 68 as she took fourth place at 216 and capped the Filipina bets’ domination of the event. Thai Pinrath matched par 72 for fifth at 218 in a tie with Andie Unson, who had a 73.