Superal pulls away in US Kids qualifier

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran internationalist Princess Superal kept her solid form at the course she calls home, matching par 72 to post an insurmountable 17-stroke lead in the penultimate round of the US Kids World Championship Philippine Qualifier at the Player course of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Superal, the youngest of three golfing siblings, pooled a 145 that included a 73 on the first day as she continued to dominate the 11-years-old division.

Also racing to double-digit leads were Rupert Zaragosa (11 years), Josh Jorge (6 under), Ryan Monsalve (9 years) and Miguel Alfonso Shah (13 years) in the boys division and Felicia Medalla (13), Jonah Paula Ilagan (14) and Joanne Malabag (15-18) in the girls side.

Bernice Olivarez-Ilas was seven up in the girls 7 and under while Daniel Ekegren was nine ahead in the boys 14 years category.

The battle for the rest of the divisions was close with brothers Alex Delfin and Alex Bernard Trinos leading by just four and two strokes in the boys 8 and 7 years age-group, respectively. Kristoffer Arevalo led the 10 years battle by three and Mark Anthony Arevalo was ahead in the battle among 13-year-olds by three.

The chase for the girls 10 years title is shaping up to be the most contested with three players – Abby Arevalo (168), Pauline del Rosario (169) and Annika Cedo (170) – separated by just two strokes or less heading into the final day.

Kristine Torralba stormed ahead of Ashia Marie Nocum by one in the girls eight years division.

The tournament, jointly organized by Great Depot, Inc., the official distributor of US Kids Golf in the country, and the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, offers slots to the US Kids World Championship and the US Teens Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina in August.

The Philippine qualifier which also winds up the summer campaign of local jungolfers after the eight-leg circuit in various courses is one of the activities put up by Great Depot to support the talent development of junior golf.