CHIHIRO IKEDA

Emboldened by her double-gold victory in last month’s Laos Southeast Asian Games, chubby Chihiro Ikeda looms as the sentimental favorite to win the Philippine Ladies Open which starts Wednesday at the Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite.

Still on cloud nine after winning the individual gold medal and helping the team capture the championship, Ikeda said she is ready and confident to regain her title against 64 challengers in the 54-hole tournament. .

“I think I have a good chance. I’m confident to win this year,” said the 18-year-old shotmaker.

This marks the fourth time Ikeda will be playing in the prestigious tournament.

She won the title two years but her back-to-back bid last year was foiled by Louise Manalo.

Manalo, however, won’t be back to defend her title since she's still in Belgium.

Aside from her spectacular SEA Games showing, Ikeda also triumphed eight times last year, including the Indonesia Am Open, the Hong Kong Amateur Open and the Mission Hills leg of the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) in the United States.

Last year’s runner-up Dottie Ardina is expected to be Ikeda’s fierce rival for the crown.

And she knows it.

“Dottie is a very good competitor and she also won many tournaments. That’s why it is going to be difficult to win against a tough field,” Ikeda said. “There are also many good and talented players entered in the tournament this year.”

Ardina, seeking for her first crown here, also boasts of two leg victories at the FCWT – the Naples Beach Challenge and the Championships Gate Challenge.

The Fil-Japanese sees a wild and exciting finish this time due to the presence of top foreign players.

Aside from Ikeda and Ardina, the other Filipino bet capable of winning the crown is Cyna Rodriguez.

Korean Shine Lee, who finished tied for second last year, spearheads the foreign challenge. Joining her are fellow Koreans Sun Hae Cho, Mi Yeon Kang, and Mingi Kim.

Golfers representing Malaysia, Singapore, United States, France, Japan and Indonesia are also expected to give stiff competition in the country’s premier ladies championship sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and Nike and organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Also backing the event are De Capricho Jewelry, Baileys,Villamor Ladies Chapter, ABS-CBN, Butuan Doctor's Hospital, Nike Park, ABLeisure Exponent,Inc., Finishes First, and Absolute.