WHILE all look ahead to rousing head-to-head duels, two of the leading contenders in the women’s side of the ICTSI Villamor Match Play Invitational will opt for different approaches when the novel event tees off on Nov. 15 at the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay.
“Unlike in regular tournaments, my mindset for the match play will be more on attack and attack to net more birdies,” said Chihiro Ikeda, the Order of Merit winner in the just-concluded Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with victories at Mount Malarayat and Eagle Ridge-Aoki.
But she downplayed her chances in such kind of an unpredictable set-up, saying: “No expectations, no pressure. But I would just like to enjoy the game since it will surely be an exciting match play.”
With 16 of the top finishers after 11 legs of the LPGT all driven to emerge on top on Nov. 18 in a format so distinct in medal play, no one indeed holds an edge over the other in the coming event spread over four days.
“I’ve always enjoyed this format since anything can happen,” said Sunshine Baraquiel, who scored a career breakthrough in wicked conditions at Highlands last year but whose game somewhat took a downswing in the season about to end.
“My performance this year wasn’t great,” she added. “Golf is really a long game and each player’s journey is different. There are improvements from last year but the results aren’t there yet.”
The lady pilot, however, hopes to end it in triumphant fashion.
“What’s great about match play is you get to re-start on each hole. Strategies will change depending on my opponent and the way I’m hitting the ball for the day,” said Baraquiel. “The approach is different just because the total score doesn’t count. The decision to play conservatively will really depend on match standing and opponent shots.”
