Princess, Cyna rebound, make US Am match play

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal and Cyna Rodriguez bounced back with impressive under-par rounds to cruise into the match play phase of the US Women’s Amateur Championship elims topped by Japanese Yumi Matsubara at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina Tuesday.

Superal, who faltered with a five-over 76 in the opener of the 36-hole stroke play elims, sizzled with a bogey-free five-under 66 in a late afternoon tee-off, jumping from joint 54th to No. 10 at 142. The top ICTSI-backed bet also tied the third lowest score in championship history.

She will take on Alexandra Harkins of Illinois at the start of the knockout stage Wednesday. Harkins finished joint 54th at 149 after a 74.

Rodriguez, who also sputtered with a 76 in the first round, fought back with a four-under 67, finishing at No. 14 with a 143 and setting a first-round clash with Mexico’s Maria Fassi, who ended up at 51st at 148 after a 71.

Clariss Guce, who opened with an impressive 72, fumbled with a 75 for joint 44th at 147. She will take on No. 16 Lori Beth Adams of North Carolina, who had a 144 after a 71.

“It was a big bounce-back game for Cess and Cyna. Their long and iron game were solid. But match play is a different thing. I just hope they sustain their form and stay focused on the task at hand,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.

Matsubara, meanwhile, fired a record seven-under 64 to win the low medal honors at 135, five strokes clear of Allisen Corpuz (71), Emma Talley (68) and Yueer Feng (68), who pooled identical 140s.

Starting off at the backside, Superal hit just one birdie and a run of pars but sizzled coming home at the front with four birdies in the last five holes, including three straight from No. 5.

Rodriguez also teed off at the back and gunned down four birdies against a bogey then added two more birdies against one bogey at the front to complete a 35-32 round.

Superal and Rodriguez, however, found themselves in the lower bracket of the 64-player field while Guce landed in the upper side and could meet Matsubara, if they win, in the third round of match play.