Arevalo seizes share of lead, Superal 1 adrift

MANILA, Philippines - Abby Arevalo fired a three-under 69 to forge a share of the lead with local bet C. Zhao while Princess Superal carded a two-under 70 to trail M. Gao of China by one at the start of the sixth San Diego Junior Masters at the Sycuan Golf and Country Club in San Diego Monday.

Arevalo, 14, hit four birdies against a bogey to set in motion her bid in the girls’ 13-14 division of the 54-hole event, one of a series of US tournaments lined up for members of Team ICTSI.

A. Ranches, another club bet, shot a 70 while Arevalo’s teammate Pauline del Rosario struggled with a one-over 73.

Superal, the reigning Singapore Amateur Open champion, rammed in four birdies against two bogeys to put herself in early contention in the premier 15-18 age category.

She stood one stroke behind Gao, who sizzled with a 69 while Hong Kong’s K. Tam also turned in a 70 to tie the Filipina bet at second.

K. Matsubara and J. Zhang carded identical 71s to lay just two strokes off Gao.

Superal and Arevalo hope to sustain the momentum of teammate Cyna Rodriguez’s back-to-back victories in Sacramento and Long Beach recently as the ICTSI-backed players gear up for the Junior World set next week, also in San Diego.