NZ champ foils Ikeda in semis

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed and New Zealand champion Lydia Ko outshot and outplayed Chihiro Ikeda in tough, cold condition and ran away with a 7&6 rout to reach the finals of the New Zealand Women’s Amateur in Christchurch Monday.

Ko, who dominated the 72-hole stroke play tournament last week, remained on track of a double championship as she dominated the Fil-Japanese bet in the early going en route to victory.

The 14-year-old find, the world No. 3 in the ranks, will dispute the crown with compatriot Cecilia Cho, who also routed Caryn Khoo, 5&4, in the other semifinal match.

Ikeda, 18, struggled for form in 7 degrees Celsius condition with intermittent rain and never recovered from a poor start, settling for joint third place finish with Khoo.

“The conditions were tough and some holes have difficult pin placements that it was hard to get your shots to stop next to them,” said Ikeda.

It was a sorry setback for the ICTSI-backed squad, which sent three players in the quarterfinals with Jayvie Agojo and Lovelynn Guioguio bowing out and Ikeda hurdling Julianne Alvarez, 4&3.