Super Princess takes charge with 68

MANILA, Philippines - In-form Princess Superal took charge with a four-under 68 worth 58 points, posting an early four-point lead over The Country Club teammate Yuka Saso at the start of the 51st Southern Ladies Championship at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City yesterday.

The reigning US Girls Juniors champion, fancied to run away with a third straight Southern Ladies Open crown, poised herself for the romp, firing five birdies that negated her missed green bogey mishap on No. 12.

But despite her big lead in the opener of the 54-hole tournament presented by MVP Sports Foundation, the 17-year-old Superal said it’s still a long way to go and anything can still happen.

“There’s still a lot of golf to be played,” said Superal, also the reigning SEA Games individual champion and winner of various junior and amateur titles in the Asia-Pacific region. “It’s good that I got off to a hot start, but there are still two rounds left and I need to keep playing well.”

Saso, the 12-year-old member of the formidable TCC squad, matched par 72 worth 54 points while another young TCC mainstay Abegail Arevalo stood three points behind at 51 points after 75 as the ICTSI-backed bets threatened to dominate the event which serves as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Casino Filipino-Davao.

Sofia Chabon shot 49 points after a 77 for fourth while Sam Martirez, another TCC member, carded 45 points after an 81.

The smooth-swinging Superal played true to form and was on target practically the entire round, save for missing the 12th green and flubbing her par-putt bid from six feet.

Gendel dela Cerna shot 50 points to seize an eight-point lead in Class A section of the annual event as Irene Shinmura struggled with 42 points and JM Balbuena turned in a 40.

Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles, drawing a net 55 points from Tina Bandolon, took a nine-point lead over Davao Country Club and Hi-5 in the team event that used the handicap system of scoring.

Balbuena’s net 58 powered Davao, while Evelyn Quinsay’s 57 paced Hi-5.