Princess super, upstages big guns

CANLUBANG, Laguna , Philippines   â€“ She had looked forward to a grand show of shotmaking from the former and current stars of Philippine golf.

Instead, she became the day’s Big Show.

SEA Games gold medalist Princess Superal surprised the men of the tour, including flightmates Frankie Miñoza and Angelo Que and even surprised herself with a flawless three-under 67 in severe windy condition to seize a one-stroke lead over big-hitting Rey Pagunsan and Orlan Sumcad in the opener of the P5 million The Country Club Invitational at the TCC layout here.

“Manonood lang ako (I’ll just watch them),” Superal said candidly Thursday morning while waiting for Flight No. 11 to tee off at the well-kept, wind-swept TCC layout that played a lot longer as a par-70 course.

But the spearhead of Team ICTSI held her own against her illustrious flightmates and did more. At the end of the day, Superal had the best round among the elite field and found herself on top of the heap.

“It was very inspiring to play with Kuya Frankie and Angel (Que). Ang dami kong natutunan sa laro nila (I learned a lot from their games),” said Superal.

Only three other bets came through with under-par scores in blustery conditions at TCC – Pagunsan and Sumcad, who logged identical two-under-par 68s and back-to-back ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Tony Lascuña, who stood two adrift with a 69.

Jhonnel Ababa and Mars Pucay matched par 70s for joint fifth while Michael Bibat, Cassius Casas, and Zanie Boy Gialon shared seventh place at one-over 71.

Que, gunning for a record four-peat in the annual event held in honor of ICTSI founder Enrique “Don Pocholo” Razon Sr., shared 10th with Jay Bayron and Anthony Fernando with 72s.

Defending champion Miñoza shot a 73 for a share of 13th.

One of six amateurs here, Superal showed steely nerves and survived the opener without a bogey. She shot birdies on Nos. 5, 7, and 10, sinking it from about 12 feet, 16 feet and three pins from the fringe.

“She’s good. What impressed me most was that she never got into trouble despite the strong wind,” said Que, a three-time winner here seeking a record feat.

Miñoza, who nipped brothers Jay and Rufino Bayron to nail his first TCC Invitational crown last year, wavered at the finish, dropping three strokes in the last three holes, including a double bogey mishap on the treacherous par-4 No. 18 and limped with a 73.

“She’s very good. She’s a thinking player, every shot for her is important,” said Miñoza of Superal, who birdied Nos. 5 and 7 and the long No. 10, which used to be a par-5 hole.

Her superb round also relegated Pagunsan and Sumcad’s pair of two-under 68s with the duo banking on early birdies to build an early one-stroke cushion over reigning back-to-back ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña.

“My ball striking is good and made some good recoveries,” said the title-hungry Pagunsan, who birdied Nos. 1, 4 and 5 inside 8 feet to negate a bogey on the par-5 No. 2, in Pilipino. “It also helped that I didn’t make any three-putt given the speed of the surface.”

Sumcad, also out to end a long spell, also birdied Nos. 1, 4 and 5 to make the turn at three-under. But the long-hitting pro sputtered with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 12 and needed to birdie the par-5 14th to stay abreast with Pagunsan.

Lascuña, seeking his second TCC crown in 10 years, went one-under at the back where he teed off. But the ace Davaoeño shotmaker flubbed a couple of birdie chances at the front and settled for a 69 for solo fourth.

Miguel Tabuena floundered coming home at the front, making a double-bogey on No. 4 and a bogey on the next as he dropped to 73 in a tie with Jessie Balasabas and Miñoza while Ferdie Aunzo and lady amateur Pauline del Rosario, also a member of Team ICTSI who bagged the 13-14 crown in last year’s Junior World in San Diego, stood at joint 16th with 74s.