Superal down by three; team also falls behind in Santi Cup

JAKARTA – Princess Superal failed to sustain an eagle-start and needed a birdie on the last hole to fire a one-under 71 as she fell behind by three in the individual competition even as Team ICTSI-Philippines slipped farther back in team play in the Santi Cup Golf Championship at the Emeralda Golf Club here late Wednesday.

After a stirring eagle putt from 12 feet on the par-5 No. 1, Superal stumbled with four bogeys in the next nine holes.

However, the 15-year-old shotmaker, who shared the first round lead with Thailand’s Budsabakorn Sukapan, fought back with three birdies in the last seven holes for that 71.

Counting her first round output of 72, the top ICTSI-backed bet pooled a 143 but dropped to second behind Chanya Prathetrat, the other Thai bet who sizzled with a 67 and grabbed the solo lead with a 140.

Cyna Rodriguez improved from a 74 with a 72 while Jayvie Agojo and Sarah Ababa both carded 74s, one of which counted for the team’s 217 total for a 36-hole aggregate of 438.

That was six shots behind Thailand, which scored a 214 for a 432 halfway through the 72-hole event, serving as the ladies side of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship.

Malaysia stood in third with a 442 after a 218 while Indonesia made a 450 after a 222 followed by Singapore (226-460) and Hong Kong (224-466).

Rodriguez’s 72 and a 146 put her in solo fifth in individual play, six behind Prathetrat with two rounds left. Malaysia’s Michelle Lay shot a 68 to seize third place at 144 while Sukapan wavered with a 73 and slid to fourth at 145.

Meanwhile, the men’s team of Jobim Carlos (74), Rupert Zaragoza (75) and Andres Saldana (79) remained in fifth place in the Putra Cup with a 460 after a 228, 26 shots off Thailand, which tied Singapore at 434 after a solid eight-under 208.

Singapore struggled with a 217 while Malaysia shot a 218 for a 445 in a tie with Indonesia, which had a 225. Hong Kong tied the Philippines at fifth with a 224.

The juniors team of Gio Gandionco (72), JR Quiban (75) and Lloyd Go (78) moved up to second at 454 after a 223 but stood 14 strokes behind Thailand, which scored a 218-440 .

Malaysia dropped to third at 455 after a 225 followed by Singapore (230-463), Hong Kong (234-467) and Indonesia (248-473).