Ikeda, Malixi set explosive duel

MANILA, Philippines — Chihiro Ikeda and Rianne Malixi produced another pair of lopsided wins to arrange an explosive semis showdown while Harmie Constantino fended off a late-charging Sunshine Baraquiel to set up a clash with Marvi Monsalve in the ICTSI Villamor Match Play at the Villamor Golf Club yesterday.

Ikeda ripped Lovelynn Guioguio, 7&6, and Malixi posted a second straight 3&2 win, this time over Gretchen Villacencio in the Last 8 phase of the first head-to-head battle on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

In the other half of the draw, Constantino fashioned out a 3&1 victory over Baraquiel after surviving a back-and-forth skirmish with amateur Mafy Singson, 1-up, in the first day of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Constantino advanced to the semis while Monsalve rallied late to repel Florence Bisera, 1-up, after booting out Lucy Landicho, 3&2, Tuesday.

Ikeda, who trounced Martina Miñoza, 4&2, in the first round of the 16-player draw Tuesday, wrested control after four holes, went 3-up after eight then coasted to victory as the Manila Southwoods and AsiaGlobal Technologies, Inc.-backed ace warmed up for her keenly awaited duel with the 15-year-old Malixi.

In the men’s side, Tony Lascuña pulled through against Angelo Que in a duel that extended to 19th hole, Guido Van der Valk survived a big scare from Jerson Balasabas, 2&1, and Clyde Mondilla leaned on another big windup for a 2-up win over Jay Bayron.

Lloyd Go posted a 7&5 rout of Zanieboy Gialon, Miguel Tabuena battled back from three holes down to frustrate Rupert Zaragosa after three extra holes, and the troika of Fidel Concepcion, Gerald Rosales and Keanu Jahns defeated their higher-ranked rivals.

Lascuña set up a quarterfinal clash with former national teammate Rosales.

Rosales, the all-Filipino Philippine Open champion in 2000 and ranked No. 23 here, turned back 2019 PGT Palos Verdes leg winner and seventh seed Reymon Jaraula, 3&1, to match the reversals posted by No. 27 Fidel Concepcion over No. 22 Anthony Fernando, 2&1, and No. 24 Keanu Jahns over eighth-ranked Jhonnel Ababa, 1-up.

The Last 8 men standing brace for a test of staying power with two matches on tap today with the quarterfinal set in the morning and the survivors disputing the final berths in the afternoon.