Superal wins via playoff

CEBU, Philippines - Princess Superal was crowned overall champion of the 49th Southern Ladies Invitational yesterday afternoon at the Cebu Country Club after pulling past Sunshine Baraquiel in a sudden-death playoff.

The 15-year-old Superal of ICTSI was tied with former teammate Baraquiel, who now plays for Manila Southwoods, after 54 holes forcing a playoff.

Both turned in 54 points in the final round and had aggregates of 166 points in the Molave System.

In the first playoff hole, the 18th, Superal’s drive landed on the fairway about 80 yards from the green while that of Baquiel landed on the mounds guarding the left side of the hole that is a dog-leg right.

Baraquiel’s second shot hit some small branches and trickled off to the cart path behind the green, which is out of bounds.

Superal pitched to within 30 feet from the hole while Baraquiel’s fourth shot, due to a stroke and distance penalty, landed over the pin.

Superal had two putts to win and Baraquiel gave her more breathing space after missing her putt for bogey. Superal then knocked in her putt for par and the the win.

Baraquiel took the title of the championship division with ICTSI’s Jayvie Agojo finishing second. Agojo fired rounds of 52, 55, and 54 for a total of 161. Third place went to ICTSI’s Sarah Ababa, who edged teammate Lovelyn Guioguio in the countback. Both had three-day totals of 158 points.

Hannah Wong of host Cebu Country Club was one of two winners from the Cebu side. She bagged the class A title with a three-day aggregate of 137 points on rounds of 46, 48, and 43.

Second place for class A went to Del Monte’s Sofia Chabon with a total of 133 points (42-45-46) followed by Seo Yon Kwon of Riviera with 131 (48-42-41).

The class B title went to Violeta Pegels of Forest Hills with an aggregate of 120 points on rounds of 42, 40, and 38.

Second place went to Eva Hino of host CCC with 177 points on rounds of 39, 37, and 41 beating the youthful Junia Gabasa of Alta Vista in the countback. Gabasa, younger sister of Cebuana junior golf star Irina, who now studies in the United States, fired rounds of 44, 36, and 37, to settle for third place.

Bae Jung Ja was the second member of CCC to bag a title after topping class C with a total of 110 points on rounds of 45, 27, and 38.

Second place went to Genelyn Inot of Mactan Island Golf Club with a total of 102 (33-34-35) followed by Anli Wu of Forest Hills on third with 97 (37, 32, 28).

Mary Ang of Forest Hills took the class D title with a total score of 95 points off rounds of 30, 26, and 39.

Second place went to Davao’s Rohelyn Revilleza with 93 (26-34-33) while third place went to Evelyn Alcantara of Forest Hills with 72 (25-26-21).

Aguinaldo’s Leni Cabili ruled the seniors’ division with a two-day output of 82 points on rounds of 40 and 42.

Second place went to Gie Bote of Tagaytay Highlands with 71 (34-37) and third went to her teammate Dionne Cu with 67 (32-35).

The tournament, which was hosted by the Ladies Chapter of Cebu Country Club returned to the Queen City of the South after several years of absence. Among the backers was Shemberg Marketing.

The National Golf Association of the Philippines was the chief organizer of the event. (FREEMAN)