ICTSI poised for Ambank Open sweep

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal fired a two-under 70 while Sofia Chabon matched par 72 as Team ICTSI moved a round away from sweeping the 18-and-under and 15-and-U crowns in the RSGC Ambank Junior Amateur Open 2014 at the Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late Wednesday.

Superal, who built a nine-stroke lead with an opening 71 Tuesday, sustained her charge and gunned down three birdies against a bogey, her 70 giving her a two-day aggregate of 141 for a huge 18-stroke lead over Nyca Khaw Wen Huei heading to the final 18 holes of the annual tournament featuring the region’s leading and rising junior players.

Huei failed to flash her familiarity with the par-72 layout, fumbling with a 76 for a 159 while Raesha Surendran hardly improved from an 81 with an 80 for a 161 for third.

Ginnie Ho, nine shots off Superal at the start of the round, also struggled with an 83 for a 163, leaving the top ICTSI-backed bet way out in front and on course for another rout after winning the Kuala Lumpur Amateur title via a 13-stroke romp last February.

Chabon, on the other hand, recovered from a so-so 76 in the first round with a 72 on two birdies against the same number of bogeys for a 148 as she grabbed a six-shot lead over Chiara Arya, who moved up to second with a 154 after a 75.

Erstwhile leader Mikhaela Fortuna skied to an 82 after a 73 as she tumbled down to joint third at 155 with Winnie Ng Yu Xuan and ICTSI teammate Samantha Martirez, who both carded 77s.

Abegail Arevalo also turned in a 77 for a 156 while Bernice Olivares-Ilas skied to an 82 for a 160.