Shin grabs 1-point lead over charging Ikeda

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Korean Crystal Shin held off Chihiro Ikeda in a day-long shootout between two of the country’s top young players, firing a bogey-free six-under par 66 worth 60 points to wrest a one-point lead in the second round of the Southern Ladies Amateur Golf Championship here yesterday.

Settling for second after taking a two-stroke penalty for riding in a cart in the first round, Shin took charge with a 36-hole aggregate of 117 Molave points as erstwhile leader and defending champion Anya Tanpinco lost her touch and limped home with a measly 52-point output from a two-over 74 card in stroke play.

But Ikeda stepped up for the crack ICTSI squad as she turned the short, par-72 Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club into a virtual playground by shooting a flawless nine-under par 63 under ideal playing condition. That was equivalent to 63 points under the Molave scoring system as she kept Shin within sight at 116.

Louise Manalo, the reigning RP Ladies Open champion, also moved into contention as she came in with 61 points from an equally fiery seven-under 65 for a 114 total in the tournament conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils and hosted by Pueblo de Oro.

Tanpinco lost in the face of the troika’s torrid charge, dropping to fourth with 111 points, six points off the two-time champion Shin, who used to play for Del Monte but now carries the colors of the host club.

Sarah Jane Ababa made 55 points for fifth with 108 followed by Lovelyn Guioguio (54-107), Irina Gabasa (53-102), Eva Minoza (49-102), Apple Fudolin (48-102), Kristine Leonen (48-101) and Annika Kang (43-85) in that order.

Merakel Embalzado, one of the new ICTSI recruits, carded 52 points for a 94 total in Class A as she seized a two-point lead over Claudine Garcia, who had 92 after a 45 while Karen Buenaventura turned in 45 points for third at 89.

Unless Tanpinco bounces back with a super low round, Shin and Ikeda are expected to slug it out in another shootout in today’s final round with Manalo hoping to sneak in from behind to claim what could be her second major win after topping the Philippine Ladies Open at Southwoods last month.

Shin, 16, made the turn at two-under with birdies on Nos. 5 and 7 then came through with four more birdies at the back on Nos. 10, 12, 16 and 17 for a 34-32 card worth 60 points.

Ikeda, 15, turned in a more impressive round, matching Shin’s birdie on No. 5 before stringing four-straight from No. 7. She gunned down two more birdies on Nos. 12 and 14 before sinking another pair from No. 16 for a new course record off the red tee.

Manalo, 16, bounced back from a bogey mishap on NO. 5 with a cluster of birdies on Nos. 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 17 as the Fil-Am shotmaker stayed in the hunt for the crown in the 54-hole tournament is sponsored by WWWExpress-DHL (trophies), Hans Brumann, DPC Yellow Pages, Koresco Hotel (official hotel), Oroport Cargo Handling Services, PARASAT Cable TV, Four S Agritrade, the Philippine Sports Commision and Hans Brumann and hole-in-one sponsors Mizuno, EMCOR and Lechon Manok ni San Pedro. - end it//thanks