Superal toughens up, clinches US Girls jungolf berth

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal rammed in an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th to salvage a five-over 77 and a spot in the US Juniors Girls Championship in the one-day qualifier at the long Merced Golf Club in Merced, California Friday.

Superal bucked a foot injury, a bad start and the long layout with a gutsy finish to gain one of the six berths staked in one of a number of sectional qualifiers for the US Juniors Girls slated July 16-21 at Lake Merced Golf and Country Club in San Francisco.

“Some holes were really long for me,” said Superal, 15, fresh from a playoff victory over Sunshine Baraquiel in the Southern Ladies Open in Cebu two weeks ago. “The fairways were a bit tight and there was a strong breeze but I stayed focused and bounced back in the back nine.”

The top ICTSI Philippine team bet finished fourth behind topnotcher Hanna Sullivan of the US, who carded a 73, Katherine Sborov and Kathleen Scavo, who had 75 and 76, respectively.

Superal struggled early at the 6475-yard layout, bogeying Nos. 1, 3 and 9 and dropping two strokes on the par-3 No. 4 when she dumped her tee-shot into the water.

But she recovered her bearing at the back, making clutch par putts on Nos. 10, 11, 13 and 14 against two more bogeys on Nos. 12 and 15 before she made a three-putt birdie putt on the 16th and holed out a long birdie to secure her spot in the main event.

Dottie Ardina reached the US Juniors Girls finals last year but bowed to Thai Ariya Jutanugarn, 2 and 1.