Superal threatens in Nicklaus Jr golf

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal rebounded strong from a so-so opening and fired a two-under 70, moving three strokes behind Taiwanese Lai Ting in the second round of the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior tournament in Mission Hills, World Cup Course in China yesterday.

Superal, who struggled with a five-over 77 in the first round, showed solid shotmaking and superb iron game to produce three birdies from close range although the top ICTSI-backed bet failed to return a six-footer for par on No. 5 for her lone bogey.

With a 35-35 card, Superal pooled a 147, closing in  on Ting, who wavered with a two-over 74 after a solid 70 for a 144 heading to the final 18 holes of the premier Under-18 tournament among some of the region’s leading junior players.

But while Superal recovered her bearing, teammates Mika Fortuna and Pauline del Rosario lost theirs with Fortuna skidding with a 75 after a 70 and Del Rosario limping with a 76 after a 71.

With a 145, Fortuna dropped from the lead to joint second at 145 with Yuka Saso, who matched par 72, enabling Sui Xiang of China to grab a two-stroke lead at 143 after a 72.

Del Rosario slid to 147, a shot farther back off Chinese Dong Lin Yu, who carded a 73 for a 146.

Fortuna actually held on to the lead with a 35 at the front but faltered with bogeys at the back to finish with a 40 and a 75.