Ikeda gets solid backing in LPGA

MANILA, Philippines - Take it from J-Ro. Chihiro Ikeda is ready for big-time golf.

“I think Chihiro is ready to try to qualify in the LPGA,” said Jennifer Rosales, the former five-time Philippine Ladies Open champion and the first Filipina to play in the world’s premier ladies golfing event.

Ikeda, 18, wrapped up the 2009 season with a gold medal feat in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos recently where she also powered the ICTSI-backed squad of Dottie Ardina and Mia Piccio to the team championship.

That duplicated the exploits of the 1997 team of Fil-Am Dorothy Delasin and Rosales in Indonesia with Delasin winning the individual gold.

Ikeda bared her plans for next year the other day where she will try her luck in the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) qualifier in September and go for a berth in the RP team competing in the Asian Games in November.

“She has the length to compete in the LPGA,” said Rosales of Ikeda, the spearhead of a crack ICTSI golf team who won eight individual titles here and abroad and two team championships in the year about to end.

“She has the experience after competing and winning in a number of major events. But more importantly, she has the heart of a champion,” said   Rosales, who tied for seventh at the LPGA Final Qualifying in 1999 to gain exempt status for the 2000 LPGA season.

But J-Ro said the LPGA qualifier is a grueling series of events, sectional, regional and final stages and advised Ikeda to be mentally prepared this early to tackle the pressure and make sure it does not affect her game.

“But as per coach Bong (Lopez), she needs to polish her putting and pitching skills, that is very important for her to go through the qualifying stages,” said Rosales, who has won two LPGA titles in a nine-year pro career – the Chick-Fil-A Charity Championship in 2004 and the SBS Open in 2005.

A wrist injury and poor form, however, slowed down Rosales in the last few years although she has vowed to do better in the coming year.

In fact, Lopez, who handles Rosales, Ikeda and the ICTSI golf team, said the former NCAA Division I individual champion is good for another victory next year.