Go upstages Superal, leads Phl Ladies by one

TAGAYTAY – Lois Kaye Go held her own against fancied rivals and came through with a gutsy, eagle-spiked two-under 70 to grab a one-stroke lead over Princess Superal at the start of the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship at Tagaytay Midlands here yesterday.

Go, a 16-year-old shotmaker from Cebu Country Club, actually took a three-shot lead heading to the 18th but bogeyed the par-5 hole which Superal birdied from close range to settle for a one-shot edge in the 54-hole championship that drew bets from Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Australia.

The Cebuana ace, who turned in an impressive performance in the ICTSI-JGFP Visayas Inter-School Championship last month, bucked the dreaded Tagaytay wind and Superal’s equally impressive game, putting together a round that featured three birdies against the same number of bogeys and an eagle on No. 16 to take charge in the event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines and presened by Champion Infinity.

Superal, seeking a follow-up to her Hong Kong Ladies Amateur romp two weeks ago, birdied No. 18 from close range to string a 36-35 card in windy condition that bedeviled the rest of the starting 66-player field.

The tournament is backed by Filinvest Alabang, Inc., Metro Pacific, Shell, Taishan Insurance Brokers, Inc., MEC, Jewelmer, G&W Clubshares, Inc. and Vermogen.

The top The Country Club bet also birdied Nos. 5 and 13 but dropped shots on Nos. 9 and 17 although the former US Girls’ Junior champion remained on track for a crack at the championship in the tournament supported by the Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter.