Ikeda coasts to 6-shot win in Florida

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda cruised to a six-shot romp despite a closing one-over par 73 as rival Patricia Garcia failed to mount a final round charge in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Sunday.

Ikeda, who turned a close battle into a rout with a fiery 66 in the third round, actually led by as many as eight after birdying Nos. 4 and 6. But the top member of the ICTSI golf team wavered coming home, dropping three strokes in row from No. 14 for a 34-39 card.

But those bogeys failed to make a dent on Ikeda’s lead as she coasted to a six-shot win in the premier girls’ 16-18 division over her Puerto Rican rival, who fumbled with a 38 at the front before closing out with a 35 for a 73.

Ikeda, who also won the Mission Hills Open on the FCWT circuit and the DHL Amateur crown back home, finished the 72-hole tournament with a five-under 283 total that included two 72s.

Garcia settled for runner-up honors with a 289 while Mia Piccio, the other member of the ICTSI golf team, rallied to place third at 294 after a 73.

Louise Manalo, the reigning RP Ladies Open champion, struggled to finish joint 10th with a 76 for a 305.

The victory is expected to fire up Ikeda as she braces for the Putra Cup later this month in Thailand along with ICTSI teammates Dottie Ardina, Anya Tanpinco and Manalo.

This marks the first time that the Putra Cup, otherwise known as the Southeast Asian Golf Team Championship, will be holding a ladies division – the Santi Cup – slated Aug. 18-21 in Bangkok.