Superal claims AsPac jungolf crown

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal capped a wire-to-wire victory for the Philippines with a closing one-under-par 71 yesterday in girls Class B of the 31st Asia-Pacific Junior Golf Championships at Eagleton The Golf Resort in Bangalore, India.

The 14-year-old Superal shrugged off the challenge of Thai rival Pinrath Loombunruang with her best round in three days, finishing with a 218 aggregate after earlier rounds of 73 and 74 for a three-stroke victory.

It was the first international title for Superal, playing out of Orchard and supported by Mighty Sports. She also placed fourth overall, five shots behind another Thai winner. Andie Unson wound up eighth, Sarah Ababa landed 15th and Marvi Monsalve 21st.

“Princess showed the heart of a champion in the final round, she just didn’t want to lose,” said delegation head Gerry Handog, chair of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, kids of former and current touring professionals are among those seeing action in the sixth leg of the ICTSI Junior Golf Summer Circuit which will be co-hosted by the Canlubang north and Riviera executive courses starting tomorrow.

Joining the field in the 54-hole tourney are the sons of Mars Pucay (Igor), Cassius Casas (JR), Eddie Bagtas (Leandro) and Boyet Zaragosa (Rupert) and the daughter of Jun Cedo (Annika).

Rupert is the player to beat in Class C while Leandro shoots for a second win after scoring a maiden victory last week at Sherwood Hills. The young Casas, Pucay and Cedo are still eyeing their breakthrough wins in the circuit.

The ICTSI Circuit is also supported by Philippine Airlines, Pancake House Group, Teriyaki Boy and Sizzilin Pepper as major sponsors. The other sponsors are Dynamic Sports and Leisure Corp., McDonald’s, Smart, Golf Depot and Pioneer Insurance.

Some of the country’s representatives to the Junior World championships in San Diego, California this coming July are among the hundred players entered in the seven-division competition for boys and girls.

The organizing Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines said this week’s leg marks the start of a rigorous training for bets in the Junior World.