BusinessMirror

Ikeda scrambles way to 1-shot lead

- NONIE REYES

CHIHIRO IKEDA took charge with a birdie start and had to hold sway despite a gutwrenchi­ng run of bogeys for a 74 as the rest tripped coming home in both sides of Valley South after 18 holes of the Ladies Internatio­nal Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Valley Golf Challenge in Antipolo City on Tuesday.

As “three-peat” hunting Harmie Constantin­o groped for form and hardly survived a birdieless round of 76, Ikeda banked on a fine start and conservati­ve to stay on top despite miscues on Nos. 3, 14 and 18 at the demanding up-and-down layout.

“I just tried not to be too aggressive because the course is difficult,” said Ikeda, who had hoped for a big round after sinking an 18-foot putt for birdie on the first hole.

It never came as she failed to rescue pars after missing the greens, the last she described as “good” after hitting it behind and into the frontgreen bunker.

But the reigning Ladies Profession­al Golf Tour (LPGT) Order of Merit champion’s 36-38 proved enough to net her a one-stroke lead and spark a campaign coming off a runner-up finish in the inaugural Ladies Philippine Masters at Villamor a couple of weeks back.

But three players of varying styles and skills put in identical 75s, including perennial contender Daniella Uy and title-hungry Florence Bisera and Martina Miñoza, while Constantin­o, despite her four-over start, stayed in the thick of things at joint fifth with Korean amateur Min Yeong Kim.

Bisera also hit an early birdie (No. 11) in a backside start but made three bogeys in a four-hole stretch from No. 14 and yielded another stroke on the sixth. But she tied Ikeda with a birdie on the seventh, only to fall behind again with another mishap on the tough par-3 No. 8.

“I missed a couple of par putts from short range at the front so I have to stay focused tomorrow [Wednesday] and try to hit more fairways and greens,” said Bisera, hoping to finally hit paydirt this week.

 ?? ?? CHIHIRO IKEDA leads in the first round despite a 74 at difficult Valley.
CHIHIRO IKEDA leads in the first round despite a 74 at difficult Valley.

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