Ikeda still on top, enjoys 3-stroke lead over surging Gabasa

CARMONA, Cavite — Chihiro Ikeda believes that her energized driving prowess is good enough to take her to new heights. The first step towards to that goal will be getting past a new rival in the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open Championship. Ikeda had a wind-blown, struggling round but still managed a one-over-par 73 to maintain the leadership with a three-stroke lead against the surging Irina Gabasa, who is threatening to spoil her party at Manila Southwoods. With a 36-hole aggregate of four-under-par 140, Ikeda's lead of five in the first round at the Southwoods' Legends layout was sliced to three courtesy of the tournament-record, seven-under-par 65 turned in by the petite Gabasa. Gabasa, who hails from Cebu, fought back from a terrible six-over-par 78 with that 65 and 143 total as she shared second place with the rallying Cyna Marie Rodriguez, who carded an eagle-aided, two-under-par 70 with one round to go. "The winds blew even harder today and that got my off-tracked a bit," Ikeda told GMANews.TV. Ikeda bogeyed three of her first seven holes but came back strong with three birdies in the next eight before dropping another stroke on the par-3 16th for a 38-35 round. She struggled on with the club selection until she birdied the par-5 No. 8 from eight feet to get her groove back. "I became a little careless in the first few holes. I really have to prep myself with what the winds will dictate," explained Ikeda, who will be paired in the championship flight with Gabasa and Rodriguez. Gabasa nailed a birdie on the eighth from six feet to hit the turn with a 33. The diminutive 15-year-old, whose frail frame belies her power off the tee, sustained her fiery form at the back, firing four birdies to complete a bogey-free 65. "I tried too hard in the first round so I decided to play somewhat relaxed yesterday," said Gabasa, who combined luck with talent and resolve that saw her save pars in four times that she went out of regulation while sinking putts from as far as 36 feet on third hole. Rodriguez used a solid frontside stint to cushion the impact of her roller-coaster finish, turning in an eagle-aided two-under 70 to stay in the hunt. The former Junior World champion fired an eagle on No. 8 then birdied the ninth for a 33 but made three three-putts for bogeys at the back and missed the green on the 15th against three birdies for a 37 and a 143. Dottie Ardina, joint runner-up here last year, bowed out of contention with a second straight 77, falling behind by 14 shots off Ikeda, now in the threshold of opening the season with a victory after racking up eight wins in 2009. Lovelyn Guioguio, joint second with Geleen Handog with 72s five shots off Ikeda at the start of the round, carded a two-over 74 and remained in contention at fourth with a 146. But Handog fumbled with six bogeys and a double-bogey with only a birdie to show in a 79 round and slid to 151. Vivienne Chi of Malaysia fired a 71 and emerged the best-placed foreign bet at fifth with a 148 while Apple Fudolin limped with a 76 for sixth but stood nine strokes off Ikeda with a 149. Korean Kang Mi Yeon carded a 74 for a 150 while Tanpinco carded a 74 to join Handog in eight at 151 followed by last year’s joint runner-up Shine Lee of Korea, who skied to a 78 for a 152 in a tie with ICTSI’s Andie Unson, who had a 74, and France’s Marquet Gaelle, who made a 77. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV