MANILA, Philippines – Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina fired identical three-under 69s to share the lead at the start of the 10th Karambunai Amateur Open 2010 at the Nexus Golf Club and Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Friday.
Ikeda and Ardina, priming up for next week’s Santi Cup in Kuala Lumpur, gunned down five birdies each to negate their two bogey mishaps as they posted a big six-stroke lead over ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa.
Winner of last week’s Malaysian Junior Open, Ababa struggled with a three-over 75 for third while Lovelynn Guioguio and the comebacking Jayvie Agojo stood a shot farther back at 76, along with local bets Diana Tam and Celeste Lo, who all had 76s.
Ikeda, a former winner of this annual event, hit 15 greens in regulation and finished with a 34-35 round highlighted by three straight birdies from No. 5.
Ardina, on the other hand, had a solid stint on the sleek surface, making 28 putts, including a pair of birdies from 15 feet on Nos. 13 and 18, as she braced for a showdown with Ikeda heading into the last two days of the 54-hole tournament.