Superal two shots down in San Diego

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal lost her rhythm at the backside and fumbled with a two-over 74, dropping to joint third, two strokes behind joint leaders Natalia Forero of Colombia and China’s Meiqi Gao in the second round of the sixth San Diego Junior Masters at the Sycuan Golf and Country Club in San Diego Tuesday.

Superal tied for the lead with a birdie on No. 2 but fell behind again with a bogey on No. 6 before missing a couple of six-footers for pars and flubbing two birdie putts inside eight feet at the back. She ended up with a 39 and a 74 for a 144 in the premier girls’ 15-18 category.

That was two strokes off Forero, who rebounded from an opening 74 with a four-under 68 for a 142 in a tie with Gao, who wavered with a 73 after a 69.

Kitty Tam of Hong Kong also turned in a 74 to join the top ICTSI-backed bet at third heading to the final 18 holes of the event serving as tune-up for the world’s top juniors for next week’s Junior World.

Abby Arevalo, who shared the first round lead in the girls’ 13-14 group with a 69 Monday, stumbled with a 78 and wound up joint eighth at 147, eight shots behind Alyaa Abdulghany of the US, who sizzled with a 68 for a 139 in the 36-hole tournament.

Pauline del Rosario, the other member of Team ICTSI, shot a second 73 to finish joint sixth at 146.

Over in California, Mia Piccio carded a 73 while Cyna Rodriguez made a 74 as they trailed Ashim Ramsey, who shot a 68, by five and six, respectively, at the start of the Women’s Trans National Amateur at the Schaffer’s Mills Golf Club.

Meanwhile, Rupert Zaragosa bounced back with a 69 after a 75 but still stood way behind at 144, eight shots behind American Gregory Gildea, who fired two 68s for a 136 and a one-stroke lead over Redford Bobbitt, who had a 137 after a 67 in the boys’ 15-18 side.