Ikeda shares low medal honors in Japan Am tilt
Chihiro Ikeda scored a one-under-par 71 and settled for a share of low medal honors in the 53rd Japan Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at the Takarazuka Golf Club in Osaka yesterday.
Ikeda matched Minami Oshiro’s five-under 67 in the first round of the 36-hole stroke play qualifiers but failed to sustain her charge and needed a birdie on No. 16 to forge the tie.
They wound up with 138s, two shots better than Asuka Kashiwabara and Natsuka Hori with the top ICTSI-backed bet confident of her chances heading into the knockout stage.
ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez said Ikeda’s performance netted her an invitation to play in the Japan Women’s Open Championship, a pro event, in Nagoya in September.
Over in Florida, USA, Cyna Rodriguez matched par 71 while Jayvie Agojo carded a 75 as they towed four other ICTSI bets into the match play phase of the 111th Women’s Western Golf Association Championship at the Sawgrass Country Club Wednesday.
Rodriquez mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys for a 35-36 round and a 141 as she settled for the No. 5 spot at the close of the 36-hole stroke play qualifiers.
But the incoming junior at the University of Southern California drew teammate Daniella Uy in the first round of the knockout stage after Uy struggled with an 80 for a 158 and barely made the 64-player cut at No. 60.
Agojo settled for No. 11 after holing out with a triple-bogey seven on No. 14, finishing with a 146 for a clash with Taylor Quinn, who had a 157 after a 78.
Lovelynn Guioguio, winner of the recent Sarawak Am crown, bounced back from a 78 with a 72 for 20th place at 150. She squares off with Ellie Arkin of Wisconsin, who had a 155 after a 76.
Sunshine Baraquiel and Sarah Ababa skied to 78s for 154 and 157, respectively, with Baraquiel meeting Canadian Taylor Schmidt, who had a 151 after a 76, and Ababa colliding with Emma Lavy of Arizona, who shot a 71 for a 145.
Madison Pressel fired a 66 for a 158 and nipped Meghan Stasi, who shot a 68, in the countback to bag low medal honors.
