Baraquiel catches Superal at helm

CEBU, Philippines  – Sunshine Baraquiel sizzled with 58 Molave points to catch erstwhile solo leader Princess Superal at the helm in the second round of the 49th Southern Ladies golf tournament at the Cebu Country Club here yesterday.

Baraquiel, playing out of Manila Southwoods, turned in a flawless round of four-under 68 in stroke play, besting Superal’s opening 69 and setting the stage for a duel for the crown in the centerpiece Championship division.

Counting her 72 worth 54 points Wednesday, Baraquiel, who birdied Nos. 1, 6, 12 and 17, pooled a 112, the same output put in by Superal of ICTSI, who slowed down with 55 points after a 57.

Jayvie Agojo, also of ICTSI team, also shot 55 points but stood too far behind the joint leaders at 107 heading to the final round of the 54-hole tournament serving as part of the NGAP-Globe Business Circuit and organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Superal fought back from a bogey mishap on No. 3 with three straight birdies from No. 7 but made two other bogeys on Nos. 13 and 18 against her fourth birdie at 17th.

Agojo also had a good start with birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 but fumbled with bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 before birdying the 16th for a 71 and 55 points.

Sarah Ababa scored 56 points for a 106 while Alta Vista’s Ericka Lim turned in 52 points for a 105 in a tie with reigning Philippine amateur champion Lovelynn Guioguio, who had 53 points.

In the 36-hole seniors play of the event, sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, WWWExpress-DHL Worldwide Express, Directories Phils. Corp. Yellow Pages, Leisure and Resorts World Corp, Security Bank and St. Luke’s Medical Center with Ford’s Inn as the official hotel, Violeta Pegels of Forest Hills scored 43 and 41 points for 84 to post a two-point victory over Aguinaldo’s Leni Cabili, who had an 82 from rounds of 40-42. Eva Hino of CCC Highbestus and Mary Ang of Forest Hills both had 74s after 36 and 34 points, respectively.

In team competition, Forest Hills assembled a 246 to romp off with the championship, 19 points ahead of CCC Mango, which had a 227 while Aguinaldo Tres Marias placed third with a 219.

With Anli Wu scoring 45 points, and Pegels and Ang adding 43 and 40, Forest Hills pooled a 128 in the first round then closed out with a 118 on Pegels and Wu’s 41 points and Evelyn Alcantara’s 36.

CCC Mango drew 48 points from Jung Ja Bae and two 38s from Hannah Wong and Lalay Lava as they scored a 124 in the first round only to falter with a 103 in the second day.

Cabili led Aguinaldo’s bid with 40-42, while Matet Salivio had 36-33. and Anita Salivio made two 34s for the teams’ 110-109 outputs.