CAVINTI, Laguna – Princess Superal and Pamela Mariano fired identical one-under 71s to grab a one-stroke lead over Harmie Constantino in the first round of the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here on Tuesday.
Superal, making a return to the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour after a stint on the Japan Step Up Tour in 2022, navigated the Caliraya Springs Golf Club course’s demanding conditions with resilience. Despite a shaky frontside 37, she rallied with key birdies in the last nine holes, including a six-footer on the last.
Greens firm, tough to read
“The greens are firm and tough and you need to place the ball where you can hit a birdie or make a par,” said Superal, who also competed in some LPGA Tour of Japan events.
The 2014 US Girls’ Junior champion missed par putts inside 9 feet on Nos. 1 and 5 but birdied No. 2, gained a stroke on No. 11 and another birdie on 18.
Mariano, on the other hand, showed her potential with a steady performance that included two birdies at the backnine, she managed to overcome a bogey on No. 6, a result of an errant layup shot.
Mariano’s game strategy, developed with her coach Boyet Zaragosa, emphasized playing to her strengths and minimizing risks.
“I didn’t expect to shoot a 71. My goal is to follow our game plan,” said Mariano, who has had at least three title runs but could not complete the deal..
“I’ll just focus on my strength,” she added. “No expectations but to improve my game each round.”
Palos Verdes winner Constantino and defending champion Pauline del Rosario, were among those chasing the leaders in this P1 million, 54-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI.
Constantino recovered from bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3 with birdies on Nos. 8 and 15 to wrest solo third and stay on course for a second straight championship while del Rosario, multi-titled Chanelle Avaricio and rookie pro and two-time leg winner Mafy Singson, matched 73s.
On a break from the Epson Tour, del Rosario blew a two-under card after five holes as she yielded two strokes on the par-5 No. 6 and bogeyed the 15th.
Avaricio also missed sustaining a frontside 35 with bogeys on Nos. 12 and 18 while Singson survived a roller-coaster round of three birdies against four bogeys, leaving the troika just a couple of shots behind the joint leaders.
That highlighted the tournament’s unforgiving nature and the slim margins that separate the contenders. Meanwhile,Lois Kaye Go stayed in the hunt with a last-hole birdie, rescuing a 74 for seventh place.
Apo leg winner Sarah Ababa and last year’s Match Play champion Mikha Fortuna scored 75s, while Kim Seoyun shot a 76.
Last year's South Pacific champion Florence Bisera, made 77 for a share of 11th with Apple Fudolin, Miya Legaspi and Marvin Monsalve, while reigning Order of Merit winner Daniella Uy sputtered with a 78.
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