MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal put on a dominating performance to oust American Maria Davis while ICTSI teammates Yuka Saso and Sofia Chabon escaped with thrilling victories at the start of the US Girls’ Junior Championships Match Play at the Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Arizona Wednesday.
The fourth seeded Superal, out to atone for her joint 10th finish in the Junior World recently, hit three birdies and a slew of pars to outclass Davis for an 8&7 romp, the most lopsided win posted in the first round of the knockout stage among 64 qualifiers.
The top ICTSI-backed bet hopes to sustain her momentum as she goes for a spot in the Last 16 phase against Anna Zhou of Palo Alto, who nipped Anna Hack after 20 holes.
Saso, 12, trailed Nina Novilla by one hole right at the start but forced six standoffs, the last on No. 16, which she birdied before surging ahead with a par on the next coupled by a Novilla’s bogey.
The Californian, however, birdied the last hole to force extension but the Fil-Japanese pounced on Novilla’s bogey with a par to clinch a 1-up win and seal a Last 32 clash with Andrea Lee of California, who trounced Thai Chakansim Khamborn, 4&3.
Chabon also trailed Hannah O’Sullivan majority of the way and could only tie five times in the closing holes before outlasting the local bet with pars on the 21st hole to advance against Idaho’s Gabrielle Barker, who beat Abbey Carlson, 5&4.
Miya Legaspi also gained with a 7&6 rout of Atlanta’s Amanda Doherty and will take on Janet Mao of Georgia even as low medalist Angel Yin ousted Julie Luo, 4&2; No. 2 Mariel Galdiano downed Korean Jiyoon Jang, 3&2, and third seed Marjosse Navarro whisked off Hawaii’s Malia Nam, 4&3.