Superal takes control in Ambank, cards 71

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal pounced on her rivals’ poor games to open a whopping nine-stroke lead with a one-under 71 at the start of the RSGC Ambank Junior Amateur Open 2014 at the Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late Tuesday.

Superal, the reigning SEA Games gold medalist, fired two birdies against one bogey but found herself way ahead of the field in the premier girls’ 18-and-under class as local aces Ginnie Ho hobbled with an 80 and Raesha Surendra and Ho Cai Yan settled for identical 81s.

Mika Fortuna, meanwhile, carded a one-over 73 to grab a one-stroke lead over Pauline del Rosario as the ICTSI-backed bets dominated the 15-and-under class in the three-day tournament featuring the region’s leading junior players.

Del Rosario, who edged Superal to claim the Faldo Series crown last month in China, shot a 74 while Sofia Chabon wavered coming home and ended up with a 76.

Bernice Olivarez-Ilas made a 78 for joint fourth with Winne Xuan and Samantha Martirez while Abegail Arevalo struggled with a 79 and stood six strokes behind Fortuna.

Superal, who annexed the Kuala Lumpur Amateur crown on a 13-stroke romp last February, made a slew of pars in the early going then knocked down two birdies before dropping a shot at the backside for that 71.

Ho kept Superal within sight in the early going but fumbled with bogeys along the way and reeled back along with Surendran while Aussie Isabella Chan and Nyca Khaw Wen Huei shot similar 83s.