Superal tows Phl team back at helm with 71

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal rebounded from an atrocious 76 Wednesday with a solid 71 yesterday as Team Phl II regained the overall lead over Thailand in the girls division of the second Montecillo Junior Golf Championship at the Orchard Golf and Country Club’s Palmer course in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

With Bianca Pagdanganan adding a 78, Team Phl II pooled a three-day total of 445, now three up against Thais Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras and Benyapa Niphatsophon , who sputtered with 77 and 78, respectively, for 155 and 448 heading to the final of the event held in honor of Amalia “Mommy” Montecillo, the late prime mover of jungolf in Asia.

In boys’ play, Thailand assembled a 148 for 438 and kept a three-stroke lead over Team Phl II of Clyde Mondilla (72) and Kristoffer Arevalo (75), who combined for a 147 and 441. The Team Phl I of Gio Gandionco (71) and Raymart Tolentino (77) assembled a 148 and stood two strokes farther back at 443. 

Superal, a mainstay of the ICTSI golf squad, highlighted her third round by holing a monstrous 45-foot par putt on the par-3 16th, which negated her bogey on the 15th, where she missed a par-save from four feet. The only birdie she made was on the 10th from about five and a half feet. 

“We’re happy to get the lead back. The Montecillo is playing on home soil so we’ll do our best to get the crown,” said Superal, who also birdied No. 10 from 5 1/2 feet.

Team Phl III (Sarah Ababa and Samantha Martirez) collected a 152 for 461 followed by Taiwan’s 168 for 470 in the event sponsored by ICTSI, Pancake House, Hidden Springs, Julie’s Bake Shop, Inquirer Golf, Friends of JGFP, Duty Free Phils., R&A, and National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, also supporting the tournament are Teriyaki Boy, Sizzling Pepper, Philippine Airlines, Pioneer Insurance, and McDonald’s.

In the boys’ and girls’ Class C, Christopher Popp shot a 77 for a 151, five ahead of Aidric Chan’s 156 after an 80 while Kristine Torralba surged ahead with a 153 after 74, two up on Mikha Fortuna’s 81 and 155. Jorge Josh (76-157) and Harmie Constantino (73-145) paced the boys and girls divisions in Class D.