Japanese ace gains title over Ikeda

MANILA, Philippines - Mamiko Higa flattened Chihiro Ikeda with a flawless stint in their morning duel then thwarted the Fil-Japanese fightback in the last 18 holes to post an emphatic 6&5 victory and capture the Japan Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at the Takarazuka Golf Club in Osaka, Japan yesterday.

The long-hitting Higa shot a brilliant seven-under par card and took a 7-up lead in the first half of the 36-hole finale, reducing their afternoon duel to a coronation round for the peerless Japanese who disposed of her match play opponents with relative ease.

“She hits the ball so long,” said Ikeda, also a force to reckon with off the tee. “She outdrives me by 30 yards and I’m not used to that.”

Unlike in her previous wins, the top ICTSI bet struggled with her iron game in the presence of the wind and spent the day watching Higa conduct a virtual golf clinic.

“The wind was very strong today, I had trouble getting the ball close to the hole the whole day,” said Ikeda, who hit just four birdies against Higa’s 10 over 31 holes.

At resumption of the match in the afternoon, Ikeda cut the deficit to five holes with three birdies from No. 25 to No. 29. But that was the closest she could get as Higa birdied the 31st hole to wrap up the crown.

Over in Malaysia, Dottie Ardina bounced back with a 74 after an 80 for a 154 but fell farther back by 13 strokes to Viviane Chin of Malaysia in the second round of the Perak Ladies Amateur Open at Meru Valley Golf Club in Perak Saturday.

Chin, who routed the field with a 68 in the first round, slowed down with a 73 but still pulled away by 13 with a 141 as Filipina Sheryl Villacencio and Malaysian Amelia Yong skied to 77s and Singapore’s Low Si Xuan made a 76 to tie Ardina at 154.