Superal, Ikeda stay one stroke behind trio of Thai standouts

MEXICO, Pampanga—Filipino aces Princess Superal and Chihiro Ikeda kept themselves in contention at the start of the ICTSI Beverly Place Ladies Classic, firing 70s here on Wednesday to stay a shot behind a trio of Thai leaders.

Chonlada Chayanun, Mookharin Ladgratok and Ornnicha Konsunthea all came up with two-under cards to give the Thais early control of the P750,000 event serving as the third leg of the new Ladies Philippine Golf Tour season.

Ladgratok checked a bogey-bogey skid from No. 15 with a birdie on the 17th while Konsunthea, who tied for sixth with Chayanun in the last LPGT stop at Pradera Verde, birdied the par-5 closing hole. Thai golfers won five of the 12 tournaments in the previous edition of the circuit put up by ICTSI.

“The pin placements are difficult, placed near the edge of the greens,” said Chayanun.

Ikeda birdied the last hole to save a 71 after blowing a sterling three-birdie splurge after five holes. Superal settled for an up-and-down pair of 35s.

“You have to be precise with your approach shots to get a chance for birdies,” said Superal.