Superal storms to 3-shot lead with 67

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal used a strong start at the backside to fire a five-under 67 and stormed past Malaysians Michelle Koh and Kelly Tan in the Premier Division while ICTSI teammate Sofia Chabon pulled away in Division A despite a 74 in the second round of the Singapore Amateur Open Wednesday.

Superal, two behind Tan at the start of the round, birdied four of the first eight holes at the back where she started then hit four more in close range at the front to negate a bogey and a double-bogey mishap for a 34-33 card at the Laguna National Golf and Resort. She pooled a 36-hole total of 138.

Her superb round startled flightmates Savitree Thavong of Thailand (72), Malaysia’s Nur Durriyah Damian (77) and Singapore’s Melissa Loh (79) and put the 17-year-old Superal three shots clear of Koh, who carded a 70 for a 141.

Tan, who nipped Superal and Cyna Rodriguez by one in last week’s Malaysia Amateur Open, struggled with a 73 after a 69 and slid to third at 142.

Australian Ashley Ona tied Tan at third with a second straight 71 while Rodriguez also fumbled with a 73 and tumbled to sixth at 144 behind Thailand’s Pannarat Thanapolboonyarat, who also had a 73 and a 143.

“Despite her superb round, Princess still needs to polish her (putting) stroke to win this one,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez, referring to his prized ward who three-putted No. 18 for bogey and reached the par-4 No. 5 in four and wound up with a 6.

Chabon braced for a second straight championship in as many weeks after running away with the Division 2 crown in Malaysia, as she padded her overnight four-stroke lead to six heading to the last 18 holes of the annual event.

Chabon, who impressed the field with a 71 in the first round, assembled a 145, six shots ahead of Taiwanese Lin Jie. En, who had a 151 after a 75 while ICTSI teammates Pauline del Rosario and Abby Arevalo pooled identical 154s after a 77 and 79, respectively.