Superal surges ahead in Faldo Series final

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 2 with a clutch birdie on the fourth 70 then pounced on Minami Hiruta’s two late bogeys to snatch a one-stroke lead with a two-under 70 after two rounds of the Faldo Series Asia in Mission Hills, Dongguan, China yesterday.

Superal, two behind after 18 holes, outdueled Hiruta in a backside shootout with a 33 then cashed in on the Japanese shotmaker’s bogey on No. 1 to force a tie. But the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet double-bogeyed the par-4 No. 2, enabling Hiruta to regain a two-stroke lead.

But Superal struck back with a birdie on No. 4 then watched Hiruta stumble with bogeys on Nos. 6 and 9 to snare the lead at 142 heading to the final 18 holes of the event featuring the top juniors players in the region.

“I had a good start but struggled a bit at the front. But I hung in there and kept my composure,” said Superal, who moved closer to nailing a follow-up to her victory in the Spring Juniors in Los Angeles last month.

Hiruta dropped to 143 while Taiwan’s Yu-Ching Wu and Malaysian Nur Durriyah Damian both carded 76s for 148s.

But while Superal snared the lead in the premier Under-21 division, teammate and erstwhile joint leader Sofia Chabon tumbled down with a five-over 77, enabling New Zealand’s Brooke Hamilton to wrest control with a second straight 72 and a 144 in the Under-16 play.

Chabon, who carded a 74 in the opener, fumbled with three bogeys and two double-bogeys against a birdie at the back and hardly recovered with a closing 35 for that 77 and a 151, seven strokes behind Hamilton.

China’s Yan Liu took the challenger’s role at 146 after a 72 while Japanese Yumi Kodo also matched par 72 for a 150.

Meanwhile, Leon Philip D’Souza, representing the Philippines, shot a second 70 for a 140 to grab a three-shot lead over Taiwan’s Kai Jen Tsai, who had a 74, and Indonesian Tirto Tamardi, who made a 73, in the boys’ Under-16 section.