Superal fumbles with 73, slips to 3rd

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal reeled back with a three-over 73 and fell three strokes behind Czech Simon Zach after two rounds of the 18th Faldo Series Grand Final at the Greenbrier’s Old White TPC in West Virginia Thursday.

The reigning US Girls Junior champion failed to sustain her impressive opening 69 and fumbled with two bogeys in the first three holes, birdied No. 7 but dropped another stroke on the next and missing the 15th green for another bogey.

Her 142 total dropped her to third in the overall race for the coveted Faldo Series Champion’s Trophy, which includes the boys with Zach matching par 70 for a 139 and a one-stroke lead over American Zachary Bouchou, who had a 140 after a 71.

“The course condition got tougher, especially the greens and Cess failed to adjust fully well,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez. “But she hopes to rebound in the final round and get a crack at the overall crown.”

Despite slipping in the overall race, the top ICTSI-backed bet Superal gained a two-shot lead in the girls’ Under-21 section with American Megan Khang taking the challenger’s role at 144 after a fiery 68. Czech Marie Lunachkova carded a 72 for third at 146.

Pauline del Rosario, Superal’s teammate at ICTSI stable and in the national team that won the recent Santi Cup in Brunei, all but wrapped up the girls’ U-16 crown with a 145 after a 74, posting a 10-shot lead over Scot Shannon McWilliam, who skied to an 81 for a 155. Lucy Walton of England pooled a 158 after an 81.

Del Rosario hit two birdies on Nos. 9 and 12 but bogeyed Nos. 6, 7, 11 and 18 and made a double-bogey on No. 15.

The 83-player field from 20 countries have been divided into five age-groups with the top three boys and two girls after 54 holes to each receive a trophy and an exemption into the Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March. The leading boy and girl will also be invited to play in a professional Tour event and the title of Faldo Series Champion will go to the player with the lowest gross score, regardless of age or gender.