Superal completes romp; Ardina 1 off Down Under

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal completed another runaway victory in Malaysia, beating ICTSI-The Country Club teammate Sarah Ababa by 12 strokes despite a two-over 74 for the Melaka Amateur Open crown in Melaka late Saturday.

Over in Australia, top ICTSI bet Dottie Ardina fired a two-under 71 to tie defending champion Minjee Lee from Queensland, one stroke behind another Aussie bet Jamie Dougan at the start of the Elvie Whitesides Golf Championship at the par-73 Royal Hobart Golf Club in Hobart, Tasmania.

Superal, who surged ahead by seven with a 72 in the second round, birdied three of the first five holes at the back to negate her three bogeys and a double bogey for a 40-34 card and a 54-hole aggregate of 225 at the Ayer Keroh Golf Club.

That was 12 shots ahead of Ababa, the first round leader who bombed out with an 80 in the second day and finished with a 79 for a 237.

Malaysian Ong Shi Qing also wavered with an 82 to settle for third at 243.

It was Superal’s second 12-shot romp in two months as she also dominated the Malaysian Juniors at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Ardina, seeking a follow-up to her victory in Penang, Malaysia two weeks ago, turned in nines of 36-35, highlighting her round with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th.

Jayvie Agojo, the reigning Santi Cup champion, likewise put herself in early contention in the 72-hole tournament with an even 73 for a share of fourth with Aussies Su Hyun Oh and Ashlee Dewhurst.

Superal’s victory also came after Ardina beat the field by three to rule the Penang Amateur Open, also in Malaysia, last week that put the ICTSI bets on the winning track again following a five-win run by Agojo (Santi Cup), Cyna Rodriguez (Hong Kong Amateur), Ardina (Taiwan Amateur and Cangolf Am Open) and Superal (Malaysian Juniors).