Ikeda slips to 4th after a 73

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda struggled with a one-over par 73 and slid to fourth, four strokes behind new leader Pinrath Loomboonruang in the second round of the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship at the Bangkok Golf Club in Thailand yesterday.

Over in India, Tony Lascuña shot a 65 to place second to Thai Chapchai Nirat who fired a course-record 62 in the first round of the Sail Open of the Asian Tour at the Classic Golf Resort Course in Gurgaon late Wednesday. Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay both turned in 67s.

Ikeda, who leaned on long putts to fire a 70 in the first round, missed a couple of birdie opportunities coming home and settled for a 73 for a 36-hole aggregate of 143.

That was four strokes behind Loomboonruang, who shot a 70 for a 139 as she seized a two-shot lead over fellow Thai bet Thidapa Suwannapura, who also groped for form with a 73 after a 68 for a 141 while Varanrada Nuprachum also wound up with a 73 for a 142.

Cyna Rodriguez, the US-based ICTSI scholar, rallied with a three-under par 69 but stood seven strokes off the pace at 146 while fellow ICTSI teammates continued to struggle on the sleek putting surface of the par-72 layout.

Sarah Ababa had a 74 for a 149, Anya Tanpinco skied to a 78 for a 154 while reigning RP Ladies Open champion Louise Manalo reeled back at 158 after a 78.

Ikeda, Rodriquez and Manalo are priming up for the Queen Sirikit Cup set early next month in Bali, Indonesia. The Philippines placed sixth in the last Sirikit Cup in Japan won by Korea.