CHIHIRO Ikeda fired a one-under-par 71 Tuesday and opened a two-shot lead over Sarah Ababa and Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong after the first round of the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Ladies Championship in Cavite.
The burly Ikeda gunned down three birdies against two bogeys in posting one of her finest starts in the local tour, where she has yet to score a win.
Fancied Cyna Rodriguez struggled for form the whole day at the windswept, ravine-laden layout in Trece Martirez, shooting a 76 to be five shots off Ikeda in the company of another title favorite, Amolkan Phalajivin of Thailand.
Ababa, who finished second to Rodriguez last month, threw away a two-under card going to the 15th with three bogeys for a 73.
Hwang was steady all day, carding nines of 37-36 to move in strong position of becoming just the second amateur to win on tour after the amazing Princess Superal, who scored the feat over Rodriguez at Wack Wack last year.
Apple Fudolin shot a 74, with Anya Tanpinco returning a 75 to be in the thick of the fight going into the final two days of the P500,000 tournament. Musong R. Castillo