Manila, Philippines - Chihiro Ikeda turned in a near-flawless four-under par 68 but still stood three strokes off new leader Lee Ji-hee halfway through the Suntory Open at the Rokko Kukusai Golf Club in Kobe, Japan last Thursday.
Ikeda hit all but two fairways and missed regulation just three times, including on No. 8 where she failed to rescue a par from 10 feet for her lone bogey in a sterling round that featured four birdies at the back for a 32.
Counting her first round output of 70, the top ICTSI bet moved from joint eighth to a share of sixth with Japanese pros Ayako Uehara and Mayu Hattori, who shot 69 and 68, respectively, at six-under 138.
That was three strokes off Lee, who sizzled with an eight-under 64 for a 135 and a two-shot lead over Ester Lee (70), Chie Arimura (67), Hiromi Mogi (68) and first round leader Ahn Sun-ju, who slowed down with a 70 after a 67. Ikeda, however, took the lead in the amateur competition as rival Sakura Kito settled for a 71 and a 141.
“She hit the ball very well today. The rough is very thick so it’s very important for her to drive the ball into the fairway. So far, she’s holding up,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.
But Ikeda braces for a tough third round outing with a forecast of heavy rains heading to the last 36 holes of the kickoff leg of the Japan Ladies PGA Tour. Sustaining her fine first round performance, Ikeda opened with a tap-in birdie on No. 1 but stumbled with a bogey on No. 8 when she dumped her approach shot on the greenside bunker.
But she gained her rhythm at the back, sinking a five-footer for birdie on No. 11 before adding another tap-in birdie on the next and another pair on Nos. 14 and 15 inside nine feet.
Over in Indonesia, Sarah Ababa settled for runner-up honors in the Jakarta Junior World Championship when she lost to Kok Jo Ee of Singapore in the first playoff hole at the Damaii Indah Golf Club BSD course, also last Friday.
Ababa closed out with a 73 and dropped into a tie with Kok, who matched par 72 to tie the ICTSI bet on top at 222 for the playoff for the Class A crown.
Daniella Uy, meanwhile, wound up third in Class B with a 73 for a 220, three shots behind winner Benyapa Niphatsophon of Thailand, who fired a 70 for a 214 and a three-shot victory over Indonesian Putri Aisyah Amani, who had a 217 after a 69.