Ikeda fires 71 for Malarayat Ladies lead

Chihiro Ikeda fired a roller-coaster 1-under-par 71 yesterday for a one-shot lead over the fancied Cyna Rodriguez after the opening round of the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Classic in Lipa City.

The burly Ikeda, a veteran of the Japan Tour, had four birdies against three bogeys in a 35-36 card to keep Rodriguez at bay with Jayvie Agojo and Thailand’s Amolkan Phalajivin lurking another shot back after assembling 73s.

The last Ikeda bogey on the 18th enabled Rodriguez to prune what was a three-stroke deficit going into the final three holes to one.

Rodriguez, who is seeking a followup to an 11-shot romp in the Camp John Hay leg in Baguio last month, gunned down her third birdie on the par-5 17th and coupled with the Ikeda bogey on the last, kept the deficit very manageable.

Seo Yon-kwon of South Korea pooled a 74 with Sarah Ababa shooting a 75 to stay in the hunt in the third leg of this season’s fledging ladies tour.

Ikeda, the former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist still seeking her first win as a pro, opened with a birdie and closed with a bogey at the Lobo and Malipunyo nines.

“I set myself up for good birdie opportunities but also made some mistakes, like the three-putt on No. 8,” said Ikeda.

Anolkan, who was second to Rodriguez in Baguio, missed gaining a share of the lead with a double bogey in the last hole.

The tournament is being sponsored by International Container Terminal Services  Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Agojo, who broke through in the Riviera leg two months ago when Rodriguez wasn’t in the field, actually rallied from a front-nine 38 by playing her final nine holes at one-under. She rued another bad putting day and later on tried polishing her stroke on the practice greens.