Ikeda shares Selangor Ladies Open lead

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda stayed cool under hot playing condition and shot a two-under 71 to share the lead with local bet Kelly Tan at the start of the Royal Selangor Ladies Open at the par-73 Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday.

Ikeda, coming off a failed title bid in the Japan Women’s Amateur last weekend, bucked a double bogey mishap on No. 1 with four birdies, including a tap-in on the 18th from a superb iron shot.

Her 71 put the top ICTSI bet in the lead with Tan, who fashioned out a four-birdie, two-bogey stint in tough condition as they took a two-stroke lead over Dottie Ardina with two rounds left in the 54-hole tournament which drew a total of 76 leading players in the region.

Ardina, who also finished second in the Perak Ladies Amateur Open, in Perak, Malaysia last week, missed a couple of birdie opportunities and settled for an even par 73 for third.

Ardina also shrugged off a bogey-bogey mishap from No. 2, making four birdies inside 10 feet, against two more bogeys on Nos. 5 and 11.

Malaysian Michelle Kho carded a two-over 74 while Sun Choi and Sheryl Villacencio, the other members of the ICTSI-backed squad, struggled with 79 and 81, respectively.

Ikeda reached the green in regulation on the par-4 opening hole but four-putted from 35 feet for a 6. She, however, rebounded with a birdie on No. 4 from 10 feet then rolled in another birdie from 12 feet on the 10th.

She tapped in for birdie on No. 13 then holed with another “gimme” birdie on the final hole to tie Tan at the helm.