Super Princess reaches US Girls final

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal survived a tough quarterfinal round showdown with American Bethany Wu then dominated Cindy Ha of New Jersey in the semis to seal a showdown with Mexico’s Marjosse Navarro for the US Girls’ Junior Championship crown at the Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Arizona Friday.

Down by one hole with two to go, Superal pounced on Wu’s bogey on the par-3 17th to force an all-square match then after both birdied the par-5 18th, the top ICTSI-backed bet birdied the 19th hole, No. 1, from six feet to clinch match.

Ranged against Ha, who ousted low medalist Angel Yin in the Round of 16, Superal, winner of various junior and amateur titles in Asia-Pacific, never wavered after taking the first two holes, going 3-up at the turn before cruising to a 2-up romp.

The reigning SEA Games champion actually fumbled with a bogey on No. 16, enabling Ha, a semifinalist in last week’s US Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship to close within one. But she birdied the par-5 18th from four feet to ease out Ha and gain a first-ever crack at the prestigious crown which compatriot and now Symmetra Tour campaigner Dottie Ardina lost in 2011.

“I just told myself to be positive,” said Superal, who made it to the finals with a series of strong finishes from the Round of 32 up to the Final Four phase. “I feel very happy and surprised. I really didn’t expect anything. I just did my best.”

Coach Bong Lopez said he was not a bit surprised over Superal’s making it to the championship, noting her ward’s dedication and determination to beat the best and be among the best.

“She’s playing pretty solid golf and her confidence is sky-high,” said Lopez, who, however, expects a shootout with Navarro in the grueling 36-hole finale between the 17-year-old shotmakers.

Navarro, who gained the No. 2 seeding in the 36-hole stroke play elims where Superal wound up fourth, birdied No. 18 from four feet to clinch a 1-up victory over Andrea Lee in the quarters then drained a 40-footer on the 21st hole to bundle out Aussie Shelly Shin in the semis.

“I was just trying to do my best and it went in,” said Navarro of her winning putt.