Team Phl eyes breakthrough in Sirikit Cup

Team Philippines hopes to finally find the right mix in its quest for a first-ever Queen Sirikit Cup with Princess Superal headlining the squad gearing up for a fierce duel with the best in the Asia and the Pacific when the 37th staging of the annual event is fired off Wednesday in Hong Kong.

For one, Superal will be coming into the event oozing with confidence and in top form following a run of four victories the past three months, including one over a crack international pro field at the Wack Wack Ladies Invitational last month. Though she struggled in the final round to finish tied for ninth in the Thailand-LPGA, another pro tournament, last Saturday, the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet remains upbeat of her chances in the event featuring the leading and rising players in the region.

“I’ve been hitting it well and my confidence is great. I just have to work on my putting and I hope to polish it in time for the event,” said Superal, who with teammate Pauline del Rosario and Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso left yesterday for Hong Kong.

The Philippines placed second twice in the last nine years, the first back in Manila behind powerhouse Korea in 2007 and the other in India in 2011, behind the South Koreans where Dottie Ardina took the individual crown.

Superal isn’t only targeting to duplicate Ardina’s feat but also carry the Philippines to a dream championship

“We have a strong team but Korea, Australia and Japan remain the teams to beat,” said ICTSITCC coach Bong Lopez, also tasked to handle the national team by the sanctioning Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

The Pinay golfers hope to get the most of their two-day practice at the tight Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling with Lopez expected to use the time to hone up his wards’ putting stroke.

“Putting will be the key since Superal, Pau and Yuka can hold their own off the tee even against the tall players from Korea and Australia,” said Lopez.