GEN. TRIAS, Cavite. – Chihiro Ikeda broke away from a fierce, tight battle with a fiery backside finish that netted her a 68 and pushed her six strokes clear of Harmie Constantino and amateur Mikha Fortuna after two rounds of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge at Aoki Invitational here Wednesday.
Unable to shake off first round co-leaders Constantino and Sarah Ababa in a fierce frontside skirmish, the Fil-Japanese cranked up her game heading home, birdying the two par-5s and adding Nos. 13 and 15 while saving a couple of par putts for that scorching 32 and a 68.
With a 139 total and a huge lead, Ikeda moved 18 holes away from nailing her second Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory this year after posting a three-stroke romp at Mt. Malarayat while battling wrist injury last May.
“Happy to be on top but it’s tough at the front nine because of the pin positions,” said Ikeda, who after stopping Chanelle Avaricio in Lipa, struggled for joint fifth at Splendido Taal ruled by ICTSI amateur Mafy Singson before bouncing back to tie for second at Pradera Verde topped by Avaricio last month.
Despite the big gap, the Manila Southwoods and AsiaGlobal Technologies-backed ace remains wary of her chances in this seventh leg of this year’s LPGT, saying:’ I hope to settle down and play steady tomorrow (today).”
Constantino, seeking to make it three-in-row at Aoki after posting her first two career wins here last year, actually grabbed a one-stroke lead at the turn with a 35 but bogeyed three of the last nine holes and ended up with a 74 for a 145.
“My putts weren’t dropping at the backnine. I got a little bit careless on No. 17 and made a wrong clubbing on the last,” said Constantino, still hopeful of pulling off a big comeback in an attempt to preserve her winning run here and check a long skid in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
