Ikeda, 3 pals make the cut

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda faltered with a five-over par 77 but safely made the cut along with ICTSI teammates Anya Tanpinco, Louise Manalo and Sarah Ababa halfway through the Nell Smithett Cup in Victoria, Australia Tuesday.

Ikeda, 17, recovered a bit with a 37 at the back as she finished with two birdies against five bogeys and one double-bogey for a 36-hole aggregate of 152 for a share of 15th.

The Fil-Japanese shotmaker, coming off a victory in last week’s WWWExpress-DHL Open, stood 10 shots off Julia Boland, who wavered with a 73 after a 69 for a 142 and a one-stroke lead over Stacey Keating, who shot the day’s best score of 70 for a 143.

Tanpinco made a 76 from four birdies against three bogeys, one double-bogey and one triple-bogey as she moved to 18th place with a 153 while Manalo lay a stroke farther back at 154 after a 79.

Ababa also bounced back with a 76 after an 85 for a 161 as she salvaged a spot in the last two rounds of the 72-hole tournament, one of a series of events lined up for the ICTSI-backed players.