Superal resumes hunt for LPGA card

MANILA,Philippines — Princess Superal hopes to feed on her back-to-back Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit title feat as she heads back to Japan next week to resume her drive for the elusive LPGA Tour card.

Superal, with Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso, had hurdled the first two stages of the grueling four-phase qualifiers leading to a dream stint in the region’s most lucrative circuit. She actually reached the final stage last year but fell short of her bid and settled for the Step Up Tour, the farm league of Japan LPGA.

But in top shape and with a confidence bolstered by a second straight LPGT OOM exploit, the 2014 US Girls’ junior champion and former Symetra Tour campaigner is confident of finally pulling it off in Japan.

“I feel good and I like my chances,” said Superal after receiving her second straight LPGT OOM trophy from organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. executive director Narlene Soriano during the Philippine Golf Tour and Ladies PGT annual awards at The Country Club in Laguna yesterday.

She shared top honors with sister Eagle Ace, who bagged the best amateur trophy, PGTI general manager Colo Ventosa, also the GM of TCC, named as the best venue host, and Juvic Pagunsan, who had earlier clinched the PGT OOM plum behind a couple of records, vying in just five of nine tournaments and winning four in consecutive fashion.

But the region’s former No. 1 missed the awards rites as he was in Japan priming up for the rich Dunlop Phoenix Open starting Thursday in Miyazaki. His cousin, Mario, received the trophy.

Superal actually missed three tournaments in the 12-leg seventh season of the country’s premier circuit but posted a victory at John Hay, two runner-up finishes and four Top 10 efforts to pool P1,164.604 in earnings and edge 2017 OOM winner Pauline del Rosario, who also missed a number of events but still finished second with P955,082, including a runaway victory at Royal Northwoods.

Former Junior World champion Daniella Uy, who rallied to salvage joint fourth in the closing leg at the Party Golfers in Taiwan, placed third with P920,644 in winnings followed by 2016 OOM titlist Chihiro Ikeda (P836,745) and Southwoods leg winner Thai Thanutra Boonraksasat (P613.744).

“This is sweet and it means a lot to me,” said Superal, adding that she actually didn’t expect to score a repeat given the quality of competition where the Thais topped the Manila Golf Ladies (Arpichaya Yubol), Mt. Malarayat (Nemittra Juntanaket) and Boonraksasat (Southwoods) and Korean Hwang Min Jeong scored twice at Splendido and Summit Point.

“It was really surprising but I promised to do better and try to win more tournaments next season,” added Superal.