Phl golfers stay in hunt in NZ Am

MANILA, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda carded a one-over 75 as she moved to third place while three other Phl-ICTSI golfers stayed well within the cutoff line for the match play event of the 2011 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Golf Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand Friday.

Ikeda, who fumbled with an 82 in the second round, rebounded with two birdies against three bogeys as she pooled a 54-hole haul of 232 heading into the final round of the stroke-play phase of NZ’s premier amateur championship.

The reigning Phl Ladies Open champion, however, stood too far behind Lydia Ko of New Zealand for the stroke play honors after the latter matched par 74 for a 217 and posted a five-shot lead over compatriot Cecilia Cho, who had a 222 after a 74.

Jayvie Agojo, who teamed up with Sarah Ababa to pocket the NZ Foursomes crown last week, skied to a 79 after a 74 as she tumbled to joint sixth at 235 with ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio, who had a second straight 76.

Ababa also continued to struggle after opening with a 74 as she hobbled with 81 and 82 in cool, windy condition for a 237 for 10th place.

The top 32 players after four rounds advance to the knockout phase, which starts today.