Yee back at helm; Superal up by 6 shots

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines  – Miggy Yee carded a 73 and regained a two-shot lead in the boys’ Class A while Princess Superal shot a 74 and pulled away by six in the girls’ side in the penultimate round of the national qualifying tournament for the Junior World Championships at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods yesterday.

Yee, the host club’s bet who trailed by two after the second round, pooled a 217 after that one-over card as he wrested back the lead in the battle for three slots in the Callaway Junior World Championship in San Diego this July. 

Cebu’s Lloyd Jefferson Go, limped home with a five-over-par 77 to drop to second at 219 while Gio Gandionco made a 73 for 221. A shot farther back at 222 was Aristeo Mata, who had a 73 while Jama Reyes (79-226) and Santiago Lorenzo (76-227) stayed in the hunt in another hot, humid day.

Gandionco, however, has already been seeded to the Junior World team for his solid performance in the recent Montecillo Cup.

Superal, a mainstay of the ICTSI-The Country Club squad, hit three birdies at the front but faded with five bogeys at the back side for that 74 that proved enough to extend her lead to six. 

She had a 220 total in the 72-hole qualifier sponsored by ICTSI and organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) . The other sponsors are Pancake House, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin’ Pepper, PAL, Duty Free Philippines, McDonald’s, Golf Depot, Pioneer Insurance, PacSports, Julies Bakeshop, Inquirer Golf and Microtel.

Marvi Monsalve, a student of St. Paul Pasig, checked in with a 77 for 226 while fellow Paulinian Daniella Uy matched that 77 for 227, in a tie with Andrea Unson, who skied to a 78. Felicia Medalla rose to fifth with a 234 after a 72 as she battles to make it to the top four for a berth in San Diego.

Raymart Tolentino churned out the day’s best score of five-under 67 to wrest a seven-shot lead over Kristoffer Arevalo (72-230) in the boys’ Class B. Jelbert Gamolo had a 78 for 233.

Harmie Constantino made a 76 and a 243 to grab the lead in the girls’ Class C, where three players will earn slots. Mikhaela Fortuna hobbled with an 83 for 237.

Bernice Ilas had a five-over 61 in the shortened par-56 in the girls’ Class D, also staking three slots, to pace with a 185, 12 ahead of Nicole Abelar’s 71-197.

In the boys’ Class D, which played to a par-62, Josh Jorge was in front with a 200 after a 71, followed by Carl Corpus (72-208) and Jolo Magcalayo (67-214).