Amateurs take charge but Superal rallies
BINANGONGAN, Rizal – Pauline del Rosario closed out both nines in fiery fashions to churn out a three-under 69 and grab a one-stroke lead over Bernice Olivarez-Ilas as The Country Club aces took charge over the pros in the second round of the ICTSI Eastridge Ladies Invitational at the Eastridge Golf Club here yesterday.
But rookie pro Princess Superal came through with a birdie-eagle finish to save a 71 in another rain-hit day and join erstwhile Chihiro Ikeda, who matched par 72, at third at 142, just two strokes off Del Rosario, who pooled a 140, guaranteeing a fierce showdown in the last 18 holes of the P750,000 championship sponsored by ICTSI.
Cyna Rodriguez birdied two of the last three holes but could only turn in a 73 as the LPGA veteran and two-time Order of Merit winner of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour fell four shots off the pace at 144 while Kayla Nocum and Mikha Fortuna, the top two players’ teammates in the TCC squad, took the next two spots with 70-145 and 74-147, respectively.
Olivarez-Ilas, 14, actually upstaged the fancied Superal and Fortuna in second-tolast group, scorching the wet frontside of the mountain-top layout with a solid four-under 32 to seize a one-stroke lead over Del Rosario. But she stumbled with two bogeys against a birdie at the back and settled for a 69 although the De La Salle-Zobel student still stayed within striking distance at 141 for a shot at a second LPGT title after ruling the Beverly Place stop in Pampanga last April.