RP Ladies Open: Ikeda-Ardina showdown looms

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Ladies Open Amateur Golf Championship unfolds today with SEA Games gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda going all out to reclaim the crown and ICTSI teammate Dottie Ardina seeking her first championship at the Manila Southwoods’ Legends Course in Carmona, Cavite.

But the rest of the 68-player field are raring to foil the fancied duo’s bid, ensuring a spirited battle right in the opening round of 54-hole tournament, which features 20 foreignbets, including Korean Shine Lee and Indonesia’s national team mainstay Ines Putri Chandra, and a host of local players raring to prove their worth in the country’s premier ladies golf championship.

Premium will be on club selection and putting as the field, which also includes club bet Regina de Guzman, Apple Fudolin of Del Monte, Irina Gabasa of Alta Vista, Gerie Leen Handog of Alabang and ICTSI/The Country Club members Cyna Rodriguez, Sarah Ababa, Anya Tanpinco, Andie Unson and Sheryl Villacencio, braces for a windy outing in the next three days at the bunker-laden layout with wide open fairways and large but fast greens greens.

“Bring it on,” Ardina told Ikeda in their final practice round Monday, expecting a shootout with the 2007 champion and the player to beat in the tournament organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Carmona, Cavite Mayor Roy Loyola, WGAP president Rio Co, Southwoods club manager Tim Allen, and Ikeda hit the ceremonial drives in yesterday’s traditional rites, kicking off the 48th staging of the annual championship sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and Nike and backed by De Capricho Jewelry, Baileys, Villamor Ladies Chapter, ABS-CBN, Butuan Doctor’s Hospital, Nike Park, AB Leisure Exponent, Inc., Finishes First and Absolute.

National team coach Bong Lopez said the course is in tip-top condition and should provide a different kind of challenge for the competing field, adding an even-par score after three days will win it.

“The course is in great shape but it will boil down to putting. The greens are fast and will be difficult to read since their speed will vary in the next three days,” said Lopez, the man at the helm of the ICTSI golf program who guided Ikeda and the RP squad, which included Ikeda and Mia Piccio, to the individual and team gold medals in the last SEA Games in Laos.

He noted that Ardina, who finished joint second with Lee in last year’s edition ruled by absentee Louise Manalo, and Ikeda have been playing well the past few months but said the pair should watch out for (Cyna) Rodriguez, the former jungolf standout who won the Texas Junior Open last June.

Aside from the centerpiece championship division, the tournament also features the Class A and Class B events, the composition of which will be classified after 36 holes of play.

Other clubs represented are Wack Wack, Tagaytay Highlands, Sta. Elena, Camp John Hay, Forest Hills, Alabang, Eagle Ridge, Capitol Golf, Aguinaldo, Eastridge, Canlubang, Mactan and Valley Golf.