TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite — Princess Superal outgunned Cyna Rodriguez in a shootout between the ace amateur and the leading pro in another windy day, birdying the final hole to card a four-under 68 and wrest a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the P750,000 ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club.
Superal’s closing birdie from 10 feet capped the reigning US Girls champion’s superb round that saw her sink a 20-footer on No. 2, a four-footer on the fourth and a 15-footer on No. 8 for a six-under 138 aggregate.
Overnight leader Rodriguez shot a 71 for a 139 total.
The 16-year-old Superal is seeking a repeat of her record run in Baguio where she routed the pro field with a bogey-free 17-under 190 in the final leg of the inaugural ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour last year.
She is now just 18 holes away from matching that feat.
“My putting was super today, making just 23 putts,” said Superal, who also flashed a near-impeccable short game by salvaging six pars while battling the wind with awesome low-flight shots.
Rodriguez, who launched her bid for a fifth title this year with a 68, struggled in the wind and failed to match Superal’s birdie-binge at the front to fall back after nine holes. She hit a birdie on No. 10 to draw level until Superal holed out with a birdie on the par-4 18th to take control.
“I couldn’t position the ball well on the fairways. To make matters worse, I couldn’t get a good read on the speed of the greens,” said Rodriguez.
Korean amateur Seng Eun Jeong fired a 69, highlighted by three-straight birdies from No. 2, and gained a rare spot in the championship flight with a 141, just three shots off Superal.
Asian Gamer Pauline del Rosario birdied the 18th for the second straight time but dropped to fourth with a 72 and a 143.
Chihiro Ikeda was three-over after four holes but hit two birdies and made eagle on the par-5 No. 15 for a 71. With a 146, Ikeda tied Yuka Saso, who matched par 72, at fifth.
Harmie Constantino struggled with a 75 for a 149 while fellow amateur Abby Arevalo also shot a 75 for a 151 in the final round of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.
LPGT Splendido leg winner Amolkan Phalajivin of Thailand hardly recovered from a woeful 77 start with a 75 and fell way behind at 152 in a tie with Lovelynn Guioguio, who skied to a 77, and amateurs Sofia Chabon and Sam Martirez, who had 79 and 80, respectively, in the eighth and final stage of the series sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong made a 76 and tied Sarah Ababa, who had a 77, at 153 while LPGT Riviera leg winner Jayvie Agojo turned in a 77 for a 155 in a tie with amateur Sam Bruce, who also shot a 77.