Ikeda vows comeback in RP Ladies Open title

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda goes up against a talent-laden local field and a crack foreign contingent as she tries to regain the crown in the 48th Philippine Ladies Open Amateur Golf Championship which fires off Jan. 13 at the Legends Course of the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

Ikeda finished a dismal 10th in last year’s edition of the country’s premier ladies golfing event won by ICTSI teammate Louise Manalo via a three-shot victory over Dottie Ardina and Korean Shine Lee. But with a sterling performance the rest of the season, including a two-gold medal romp in the Laos SEA Games, the 18-year-old power-hitting shotmaker has been marked as the player to beat in the 54-hole championship.

“It will be tough but I will try my very best to start the year right with a victory,” said Ikeda, who rallied from three strokes down to beat Indonesia’s top player Lydia Ivana Jaya by three shots and capture the 2007 crown.

Ikeda racked up eight victories here and abroad in 2009, capping her banner season with a gold medal victory in the SEA Games while powering the RP squad to the team championship. She also won the Indonesia Am Open, the Hong Kong Amateur Open, the Kau Sai Chau Open, also in Hong Kong, and the Mission Hills leg of the FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour) in the US.

But she is expected to encounter stiff resistance from 64 other rivals, including defending champion and another ICTSI team mainstay Louise Manalo, Cyna Rodriguez and Ardina and six players from Malaysia, four from Korea and three from Singapore.

The organizing Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines also expects participants from Indonesia, Singapore, France, Japan and the United States while new ICTSI team members Andie Unson and Daniella Uy will also try to spoil the big guns’ party.

“Though the field looks formidable at this point, we are still expecting some more confirmations this week since we’re coming from a long holiday break,” said WGAP president Rio Co.

For details and listup, contact WGAP at tel. Nos. +639178272019 +639189380709 and fax +632-531-9190 or email at [email protected]

Clubs all over the country will be fielding their best bets in the Open, which will also feature the Class A and Class B events after the classification on the second day. Playing are entries from Sta. Elena, Eagle Ridge, Southwoods, Valley Golf, Orchard, Riviera, Tagaytay Highlands, Alta Vista, Forest Hills, Pueblo de Oro, Cangolf, Del Monte and Phil. Navy.