Chihiro Ikeda recalled the form that snapped a long title spell in Tagaytay last May, shooting a bogey-free six-under 63 to seize a huge five-stroke lead over Princess Superal at the start of the ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Championship in Baguio yesterday.
Ikeda sizzled in hot but soft conditions with solid driving and superb iron play that produced six birdies, including four at the front of the up-and-down layout that stood out in the early going of the P1 million tournament serving as the ninth leg of the seventh Ladies Philippine Golf Tour put up by ICTSI.
Though she slowed down a bit with just two birdies at the back, they proved enough to put the former SEA Games gold medalist, who edged Pauline del Rosario in a playoff to win at Midlands, way ahead of the pack with nobody able to match Ikeda’s fiery start she anchored on steady putting.
“I struggled with my putting during the pro-am (Tuesday) but it clicked today (yesterday) and that complemented my driving and iron game,” said Ikeda, whose scorching start actually carried the momentum of her strong finish at Pradera Verde last week where she closed out with a 71 to finish tied at 24th after barely making the 50-player cut.
Unlike Ikeda, Superal struggled with her irons, bogeying half of the six par-3s, although she birdied Nos. 8 and 14 then eagled the par-5 16th to move to solo second at 68 on a course where she reigned in the last stop of the five-stage LPGT inaugurals in 2013 as an amateur.
Despite her shaky start, Superal said she was satisfied with her game, particularly off the tee, an aspect of her game that has been hampering her campaign especially against the long hitters on the international stage.
“My game’s okay especially my driving where I’ve added some yardage, so I’m quite excited,” said Superal. “I will just focus on my game and won’t mind other players’.”
Thai Ajira Nualraksa missed joining Superal at second with a last-hole bogey, dropping to joint third at even-par 69 with Daniella Uy, the best-placed local at joint third at Pradera who blew a two-under card with two bogeys in the last five.
Amateur Chanelle Avaricio birdied the last two par-5s (Nos. 16 and 17) to save a 70 and join Thai Numa Gulyanamitta and Pamela Mariano at fifth with Sarah Ababa recovering big from a five-over 40 start with four birdies in the first seven holes at the back.
But the former LPGT leg winner bogeyed the last to drop to 71 in a tie with amateur Mafy Singson, who also stumbled with a bogey on the long par-3 closing hole with fellow amateur Sam Dizon carding a 73.
Tiranan Yoopan and amateur Eagle Ace Superal birdied the first two holes but the duo lost their touch and poise and limped with bogeys and a triple bogey each to limp home with 76s in a tie with Marvi Monsalve in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.