Superal, Del Rosario make US Girls Jrs match play

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal carded a one-over 73 to finish joint 11th and safely advance to the match play phase of the 65th US Girls’ Junior Championship at the Sycamore Golf Club in Forth Wayne, Indiana Tuesday.

Superal, who teamed up with Daniella Uy to capture the team crown in the girls’ 15-17 division in last week’s Junior World in San Diego, birdied two of the last four holes to salvage a 37-36 card as the top ICTSI-backed bet ended up with a 145 to tie Jennifer Kupcho and Kristen Gillman, who both shot 70s, Taylor Tomlinson, who had a 73, Sarah Cho, who made a 75, and Nicole Morales, who wound up with a 76.

They finished seven strokes behind Bailey Tardy, who strung up back-to-back 69s for a 138 to edge Lilia Vu, who carded a 71-139, for low medal honors.

Pauline del Rosario, the other ICTSI mainstay who is also coming off a victory (13-14) in the Junior World, barely made it to the knockout stage with a seven-over 79, needing to birdie two of the last six holes to advance. She ended up at joint 56th at 154, just one shot better off the cutoff score for the top 64 players out of 154.

Superal, also the reigning Singapore Amateur champion, takes on Youngin Chun of Texas, a joint 46th placer at 153, in the first stage of the knockout stage while Del Rosario squares off with Kelsey Ulep of California, who finished joint fifth at 142.

Uy, who opened with a 72, skied to an 81 but still made it to the next phase at 153 for a clash with a Lakareber Abe of Texas, who matched par 72 for joint 17th at 146.