Superal scores 12-shot victory in Malaysian Am

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal cruised to a 12-stroke victory over Malaysian Nur Durriyah despite a closing two-over 74, sealing the 100 Plus Malaysian Junior Open Golf Championship in Malaysia Friday and nailing Team ICTSI’s fourth victory in as many weeks abroad.

Superal, 15, knocked down birdies on Nos. 1 and 6 inside five feet but had two missed-green bogeys and made a double-bogey on the tricky par-3 No. 3 which she hit in regulation, but putted from a difficult position and out of the green. She needed to pitch from 10 yards but muffed a six-footer for a 5.

The rest of the field likewise struggled on the unpredictable putting surface of the Saujana Golf and Country Club, enabling the top ICTSI bet to post a runaway victory at 216 that included a 72 and a 70.

Durriyah also settled for a 74 but took runner-up honors at 228 while erstwhile pursuer Genevieve Ling hobbled with a 78 and wound up third at 231 followed by local bets Kellie Yan, who had a 234 after a 76, and Asha Lakshme, who skied to a 79 for a 235.

Superal, the reigning Southern Ladies Open champion back home, actually swept two titles as she also took the Class B crown with a bigger winning margin of 22 strokes over Abigail Chong, who finished with a 238 after a 76.

The victory thus kept the ICTSI-The Country Club team on the winning track after Jayvie Agojo sparked the run with a victory in the Santi Cup individual championship last month. Cyna Rodriguez followed it up with a playoff win over Agojo in the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open before Dottie Ardina snatched the Taiwan Amateur crown last week.

Meanwhile, Agojo and Rodriguez leave for Taiwan again next week to vie in the special LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament.