One more crown for little Princess

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal buried a pressure-packed 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th and fired a two-under 70, edging Japanese Furuya Shoka by one to capture the True Visions Junior Golf Championship crown at Siam Country Club’s Plantation course in Thailand late Friday.

Superal, who dropped to a share of the lead with the Japanese ace with two 72s in the middle rounds, fell by one in the early going but hit a clutch birdie on No. 7 to draw level, pounced on Shoka’s bogey on the ninth to regain control only to reel back with another bogey on the 10th.

But she kept Shoka in check with gutsy pars at the back then broke her rival’s back with that title-clinching birdie putt on the finishing hole for a four-round total 283 at the Siam Country Club’s Plantation course and a one-shot victory.

Shoka earlier flubbed her own bid from 25 feet.

“I just stayed focused out there, kept my composure and made the most of my chances. I was just glad I made that birdie on the 18th,” said Superal, 17, also the reigning US Girls Junior champion.

Shoka finished with four 71s for a 284 while Superal’s teammate Abby Arevalo carded a 73 and placed third with a 294 in the premier Class A section.

With Superal’s 70, Sam Martirez’s 73 and Pauline del Rosario’s 76, Team Philippines-ICTSI pooled a 219 for an 811 aggregate for a 15-point romp over Malaysia in team competition.