Superal wavers but stays ahead with 72
PRINCESS Superal endured a wobbly frontside windup in tough conditions, scrambling for an even-par 72 and a one-stroke lead over a hotfinishing rookie Harmie Constantino at the start of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge at the Aoki course on Tuesday in General Trias, Cavite.
Looking good with a four-birdie, two-bogey backside start in intermittent drizzle, Superal kept a twounder card with a birdie on No. 5 that negated a bogey mishap on No. 1. But she nearly lost her grip on the lead with back-to-back bogeys from No. 6 in windy conditions as Constantino blazed home with back-to-back birdies to salvage a 73.
In a flight ahead, Pauline del Rosario,who bogeyed three of the first four holes at the back, birdied the fifth to save a 74 while
Daniella Uy carded a 75 to stay in the hunt in the first of two Eagle Ridge events, the other being the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship on March 23 to 25, kicking off the new Ladies Philippine Golf Tour season.
Chanelle Avaricio actually crowded flight mates Superal and Constantino with a gutsy 36 start on two birdies against the same number of bogeys. But the Alabama State product lost her focus, touch and momentum at the front, fumbling with four bogeys in the first seven holes then holing out with a triplebogey on the par-4 eighth. She limped with a 43 and a 79.
Amateur Laurea Duque, meanwhile, turned in a 77 while Marvi Monsalve and Sunshine Baraquiel struggled with identical 78s and former three-time Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez groped for form coming off a long layoff and skied to an 81.
But Superal stayed in shape despite a three-month break after winning the first of two Riviera titles in LPGT’s return in new normal after an eightmonth hiatus due to pandemic, birdying three of the first five holes against a bogey and staying on top of the compact field throughout despite her shaky finish.
“I just tried to control my shots and my putting clicked early on,” said Superal, who, however, downplayed her chances for another crack at the crown in this Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized event. “I’m not expecting anything, I just want to play my game and try to enjoy the week.”
In contrast, Constantino struggled with her putting stroke but came out of the challenging day more than satisfied although she hinted at modifying her game plan in the next two days in an attempt to nail a victory in her first pro tournament.
Expect del Rosario, who nipped Superal by one to snatch the other Riviera diadem, to likewise make her move, and so do the rest of the contenders, ensuring a spirited chase for top honors in the last 36 holes of the P400,000 championship.