Ikeda rallies to win Singapore Amateur Open

Chihiro Ikeda shot the only under-par round of 71 to complete a come-from-behind victory over local bet Charlotte Thomas in the 21st Singapore Ladies Golf Association (SLGA) Amateur Open Golf Championship held at the Singapore Island Country Club in Singapore. The Filipina-Japanese showed nerves of steel versus her Singapore training pool member opponent. Ikeda drained birdies on the 14th and 16th to negate his bogey on No. 18 for a total haul of two-under 214, two better than Thomas’ 74-216 and four over Macau’s Ginger Mak’s 72-218.

Ikeda, the 18-year-old bet representing ICTSI-The Country Club, trailed for most part of the 54-hole tournament and was actually one stroke adrift after the second round. With her opening one-under 71, she had a 143 total as against Thomas’ 142 after stumbling to a two-over 74 due to the extreme heat. “It’s great to win again," said Ikeda, whose last triumph came in the 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games. She placed fourth in National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP)-organized Philippine Amateur Golf Championships played recently at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon. None was happier than RP national team coach Bong Lopez, who believes that the members of the country’s training pool are shoo-ins for the Philippine squad to the Guangzhou Asian Games in China in November. "The girls are getting better as the year progresses. We’ll try to give them as much exposure in international golf tournaments like this. I am confident of a very strong showing in the Asian Games," said Lopez. Joining Ikeda in the RP training pool are Dottie Ardina, Cyna Rodriguez and Mia Piccio. Lovelyn Guioguio, another TCC bet, was in solo sixth with 220. The petite, power-hitter from Cagayan de Oro made a 71 in the first day to stay in contention. Her opportunities slipped away as she ballooned to a two-over 74 and three-over 75 in the next two rounds. Andrea Unson was at eighth with 76-224, Sarah Jane Ababa ninth with 74-225 and Anya Tanpinco 14th with 77-229. Daniella Uy, one of the junior golfers in the TCC squad, carded 71 for 228 and topped Division A. The runner-up honors went to teammate Sheryl Villacencio (78-236) while Singapore’s Lyn Sen was a far third with 86-252. Meanwhile, in the team competition, Ikeda, Guioguio and Tanpinco pooled in an aggregate 288 to bag the crown followed by Team Macau’s (Ginger Mak and Demi Mak) 292. – JVP/Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV