Superal, Sherman brace for PLO duel

MANILA, Philippines - Local ace Princess Superal and Thai rising star Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong gear up for a battle royale with the leading local and foreign shotmakers as they signed up for the 2014 Champion Infinity Philippine Ladies Open which unwraps Jan. 8 at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo, Rizal.

Superal and Sherman both beat the pros to highlight their respective campaigns in the year just passed with the former winning the fifth and final leg of the inaugural ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour in Baguio and the latter dominating the field to rule the Thailand Ladies Open.

The 16-year-old Filipina find and spearhead of Team ICTSI capped her remarkable season by winning the individual gold medal in last month’s SEA Games in Myanmar, making her the player to watch in the annual 54-hole championship presented by Peerless Products Mfg., makers of Champion Infinity.

But Sherman also looms as one of the top contenders after the rising Thai star closed out with four-under 68 to nip fellow amateur Ornnicha Kosunthea and LPGA campaigner Pornanong Phatlum by one to capture Thailand’s premier ladies event.

Filipina Pauline del Rosario also saw action in the Thailand Open, turning in the final round’s best score of five-under 67 to salvage fourth place. The reigning Junior World (13-14) champion is also entered in the Philippine Ladies Open, guaranteeing a slam-bang action for the coveted crown.

Supamas Sangchan, who rallied from two strokes down and outlasted Dottie Ardina on the sixth playoff hole at Mt. Malarayat to snatch last year’s crown, is back to defend her title in the event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. But the first Thai to win the PLO crown since Yupaporn Kawinpakorn reigned in 2007 faces a formidable challenge this time with the likes of Abby Arevalo, Sofia Chabon, Mikhaela Fortuna, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, Sam Martinez and Sam Green also joining the title hunt.

Other titles to be disputed in the event are the Classes A and B while special prizes are up for grabs for the daily best net scores and nearest to the pin feats.