Super Princess closes out season in style

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal picked up another victory to close out a sterling season, rallying from three strokes down to beat local ace Ida Ayu Indira with a five-under 67 and snare the Pondok Indah International Junior golf crown by three at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta late Thursday.

It was Superal’s 12th win in a remarkable campaign in the year about to end highlighted by a record romp in the US Girls Juniors and her latest triumph capped a fiery finish where she swept her last five tournaments.

The 16-year-old spearhead of Team ICTSI kicked off her amazing title run with a dominating win in the Future Champions Golf in Temecula then strung up victories at the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at Sherwood, at the ASEAN Schools at Valley Golf and at the SICC Singapore Juniors last week.

“I’m happy with this comeback win. I really tried to rally in the last two rounds and I gained so much confidence after I birdied No. 2,” said Superal, who pooled a one-over 217 in the 54-hole tournament to repulse Indira, who failed to match the Filipina ace’s sizzling windup and hobbled with a 72 for a 220.

Indira settled for the 15-18 division crown, beating Martirez, who had a 226 after fumbling with a 78 while erstwhile joint leader Abegail Arevalo lost her touch and poise and skied to an 80 for a 227.

Sofia Chabon also wound up second in the 13-14 category with a 222 after a 72, five strokes behind Malaysia’s Ashley Lau, who ran away with the crown with a 217, also after a 72.

Falling behind by seven after a disastrous 78 Tuesday, Superal bounced back to within three of Indira and Arevalo with a gutsy 72 in the second round then did what she does best in the end – win.

“She’s really a fighter. After shooting a 78 in the opener and falling behind by seven, she never lost hope. She was so confident she can mount a comeback,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.

She did.

After she canned in a four-footer for birdie on the second hole in the final round, the Asian Gamer, who also won the individual crown and steered Team Philippines to a breakthrough Santi Cup title, hit three straight birdies from the long range from No. 6 then knocked down two more birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to negate a missed-green bogey on the ninth.