Superal bucks shaky finish, leads by 2

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal wavered at the finish and settled for a 72 but still took a two-stroke lead over Malaysian Asha Lakshme at the start of the 100 Plus Malaysian Junior Open Golf Championship at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Malaysia late Wednesday.

Superal, 15, hit three birdies against a bogey and had a two-under card heading to the last two holes at the front. But she three-putted No. 8 from 30 feet and flubbed a par-saving putt from four feet on the ninth for a 37-35 card.

Still, the top ICTSI bet bested a host of local aces and other leading junior players from Asia-Pacific countries, including Lakshme, who struggled on the sleek putting surface and carded a 74 while Nur Durriyah and Genevieve Ling stood four strokes adrift of Superal with identical 76s.

Superal is out to keep Team ICTSI-Philippines’ winning run in the region the last four weeks with Jayvie Agojo winning the Santi Cup individual crown in Indonesia, Cyna Rodriguez bagging the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur diadem and Dottie Ardina snatching the Taiwan Amateur title last week.

The diminutive Superal, a runner-up in the Women’s Trans National in South Carolina last July and the reigning Southern Ladies Open champion, frolicked off the mound all day, hitting all but two fairways although she struggled on the tricky greens with two three-putts, including from 20 feet on No. 5.

She knocked in a solid approach shot to set up a five-foot birdie on No. 13 and struck back-to-back birdies from No. 6 inside eight feet before bogeying the last two holes.