Ikeda bucks wrist injury to grab early lead in ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge

TAGAYTAY—Chihiro Ikeda bucked a wrist injury to salvage an even-par 70 and grab a one-stroke lead over Princess Superal at the start of the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge at Highlands Golf and Country Club here Wednesday.

Ikeda rebounded from two bogeys and a double bogey in the first four holes with five birdies in an eight-hole stretch from No. 6, then made two bogeys against a birdie in the last five to seize control in the P1 million event backed by ICTSI.

Superal, seeking an end to a long spell on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, actually wrested control with a one-under 33 start. But she wavered at the back, dropping strokes on Nos. 13 and the closing hole to slip to second with a 71.

With the rest yielding to the dreaded winds and tight fairways, the chase for the top P250,000 purse could be reduced to the two leaders who have put premium on caution given the prevailing condition on the rolling layout.

“The course is tough and I have to play extra careful with my shots since I’m still favoring my wrist,” said Ikeda, seeking a follow-up to her victory over Superal in the Eagle Ridge stop of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I’ll just go for regulation and make the most of the birdie chances,” added Ikeda, the former SEA Games individual gold medalist who also won at Forest Hills last year.

Superal, who last won in 2016, went straight to the range to check on her stance, which she partly blamed for her shaky finish. And like Ikeda, she stressed the need to be cautious on each shot with troubles lurking on every hole.

Top amateur Kristine Torralba rallied with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to save a 75 and tie Thai Sarinee Thitiratanakorn at third.

Cyna Rodriguez never got into contention with six bogeys and a double bogey in the first 14 holes, before coming through with a birdie on the 16th to finish with a 77 for solo fifth.

Thai Saruttaya Ngam-usawan, winner at Royal Northwoods in 2016, birdied the opening hole but faded quickly with three bogeys and three double bogeys for a 78 in a tie with amateur Mafy Singson.