Superal rallies, trails by one

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal hit two late birdies to shoot a three-under 68 and move within one of Malaysian Kelly Tan in the second round of the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia Wednesday.

With ICTSI teammate Cyna Rodriguez failing to sustain a two-under 69 in the first round with an even par 71, Superal took the challenger’s role and turned in the day’s best score, spiked by a three-birdie string from No. 15 inside eight feet, for that 68 and a 138.

That put the reigning Melaka and 100Plus Junior champion within a shot of Tan, who carded a one-under 70 for a 137, heading to the final 18 holes of Malaysia’s premier amateur championship.

“I putted really well today and my iron game also improved,” said Superal who hit 14 greens in regulation.

Three down at the start of the round, Superal, 17, birdied Nos. 6 and 7 inside five feet, made a tap-in birdie on the 10th then rolled in a 12-footer on No. 15 and a pair of eight-footers on the next two to negate her missed-green bogey mishaps on Nos. 5, 11 and 14.

Rodriguez, impressive with a 69 in the first round, struggled with her short game but recovered to salvage a 72 for a 141, four shots adrift in Division I play.

Pauline del Rosario, a new member of the ICTSI squad, made a 73 for a 143 in a tie with India’s Gurbani Singh, who sizzled with a 69.

Sofia Chabon, meanwhile, surged ahead in Division 2 with a 75 and a 154, posting a six-shot lead over local bet Natasha Oon, who shot a second 80 for a 160 while erstwhile leader Nur Shahzan, also of Malaysia, skied to an 83 after a 78 and dropped to 161.