Ikeda rallies to clinch Southern Ladies crown

MURCIA, Bacolod – Chihiro Ikeda sparkled with a five-under-par 65 for a whopping 59 Molave points to complete a thrilling come-from-behind win over Jayvie Agojo in the championship division of the 48th Southern Ladies Golf Championship at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club. After two decent rounds at the tree-lined fairways of the par-70 Binitin layout, Ikeda was on target on Saturday with her short game and splendid putting for her first Southern Ladies crown. Ikeda wound up with a 167 total. Agojo came through with a 51 for a 63 and runner-up honors, followed by Andrea Unson (one-over 71, 55 points) for third place. Dethroned champ Dottie Ardina came through with a 49 for 155. "I never thought I'd win this one. The opportunity opened up in the last nine holes, I grabbed it and won convincingly," said Ikeda. Down by four before Saturday's final round, Ikeda sliced the lead to three after nine holes. She then erased it on the par-three 10th where she calmly sank a 20-foot birdie putt then watched Agojo hole out with a double bogey to even the score. Ikeda broke the deadlock at the par-four 14th. She recorded a regulation par while the 24-year-old Agojo, a University of Pepperdine graduate, succumbed to a bogey as she missed a par-save. With momentum on her side, Ikeda turned up the heat in a three-birdie binge from the 15th (one foot on a perfect pitch), 16th (three feet on a good second shot) and 17th (six feet). "The birdie on No. 15 got me going. So I attacked the pins and the birdies kept coming my way. It came at the right time," said Ikeda, also the reigning Philippine Ladies Amateur Open champion. It was a painful loss for Agojo, who led the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP)-organized tournament in the first two rounds. Her shot-making skills were off form in the final day. Approach shots and bad putting proved critical for Agojo, the 2005 Southern Ladies winner. She made a couple of three-putts in the closing holes that put her out of contention for good. "It is hard to play great golf from start to finish. There will be bad times as well. Too bad mine arrived at the crucial stages. I simply lost to a better player in Chihiro (Ikeda)," Agojo said. Sarah Jane Ababa carded a 55 for 158 for fourth, followed by Ardina. Sunshine Baraquiel was sixth with 50-153 while Lovelyn Guioguio was seventh with 49-151. Cara Golez (47-143), Kristine Leonen (42-141), Eva Minoza (49-137), Pamela Mariano (36-132) and Gaby Monfort (41-131) were the other players in the championship division. Other division champions were Arianne Salvador (Class A, 44-137); Lilibeth De Villa (Class B, 33-104); Leni Cabili (Class C, 35-104); Sol Antonio (Class D, 24-83) and Sonnie Montelibano (Seniors, 41-83). – Adrian Flores, JVP, KY, GMANews.TV