Ikeda seizes two-shot lead with eagle-aided 70

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite, Philippines — Chihiro Ikeda banked on a late eagle on her way to a two-under 70 and a two-stroke lead over Gretchen Villacencio and Chanelle Avaricio in the opener of the ICTSI Sherwood Challenge here yesterday.

Ikeda went on a bogey-birdie-bogey roll from No. 11 to barely cling onto the lead but gunned down an eagle on the par-5 15th before losing steam at the end of the scorching day, bogeying the 18th and missing padding her lead to three.

“I didn’t expect to go under. I was looking at a 3-over start which I think is good given the long layoff,” said Ikeda.

Villacencio missed grabbing solo second as she matched flightmate Ikeda’s closing bogey for a 70, the same output put in by Avaricio after blowing a lone birdie on the par-3 11th with a bogey on the 15th even as fancied Harmie Constantino and Princess Superal struggled with identical 74s.

“We’re happy for the resumption of the tour and we’re all playing inspired following Yuka’s (Saso) win (in the US Women’s Open),” said Villacencio, who led in the first two days in the Riviera Classic in 2018 before succumbing to Superal in the final round for her closest stab at LPGT glory.

“But we’re really happy that the tour is back. It’s exciting to be competing again, being with your friends,” added Ikeda.

Meanwhile, Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan continue their buildup for the Tokyo Olympics when they compete in the $2-million Marathon LPGA Classic beginning today in Sylvania, Ohio.

Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open titlist, returns to the tour after skipping last week’s Volunteers of America Classic, where Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina finished 56th and 63rd, respectively.

Ardina, who posted her best career finish of joint 12th in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship two weeks ago, ushers in action for the Filipinas in her 7:15 a.m. flight.