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 R1 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.
