By Adrian Flores

CARMONA, Cavite?Louise Manalo never expected to play so good but, nevertheless, took a share of the top spot with three others at the start of the 47th ICTSI-Philippine Ladies? Amateur Open Championships at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.

Sunshine Baraquiel and Lee Jeong-Hwa, local gunners of Manila Southwoods, and Maan Legaspi of Riviera matched Manalo?s one-over-par 73 to grab the early lead despite the super windy day at the Legends course, which saw no one breaking par for the day.

Defending champion Chihiro Ikeda?s game did not take off, at least, for the day. She made a 78 (39-39) and has a lot of catching up to do if she hopes to retain her crown.

Manalo, 15, drove home successive birdies on hole nos. 2 and 3, both from about six feet, before crashing a stroke back with a bogey on the seventh after she missed the green. Another on the eighth gave her a 34 at the turn.

But the sophomore member of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. golf squad spoiled her gains in the first half as she three-putted the 10th and 12th, then was backtracked by a bogey on no. 13. A birdie on the next from eight feet temporarily gave her the upperhand.

Manalo, who never finished the Open last year because of chicken pox, had a bogey-par finish for that 73.

?I wanted a safe game because the winds blew hard from everywhere. Luckily, I came away with the lead,? the soft-spoken Manalo told Standard Today.

Baraquiel was also intimidated by the strong winds. She suffered the worst beating on the ninth hole where her drive went into the rough, then her play out rolled into the bunker. She two-putted for a double bogey score of six.