Superal, Ilas pace True Visions tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal put in motion her bid for a third crown this year as she fired a three-under 69 to open a two-stroke lead in Class A while ICTSI-The Country Club teammate Bernice Olivarez-Ilas took charge in Class B with an eagle-spiked 71 at the start of the 14th True Visions International Junior Golf Championships in Thailand late Tuesday.

Superal, coming off a Faldo Asia Series title romp two weeks ago, bucked an early bogey mishap on No. 3 with a three-birdie binge from No. 5 then added another six-foot birdie putt on the 11th to string a 34-35 card and a two-stroke lead over Furuya Shoka of Japan.

Shoka actually seized control early with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 but bogeyed two of the next three holes and made another bogey against two birdies in the last 12 to salvage a 71 at the Siam Country Club’s Plantation course.

Another Japanese, Takahashi Sayaka stood in solo third with a 73 while Hong Kong’s Lai Ying carded a 74 for joint fourth with local bets Sasikarn Somboonsup and Tagla Jeeraviviporn.

But while Superal, who also ran away with the Spring Junior crown in California early in the year and placed second in the ICTSI Ladies Open, played true to form, teammates Sam Martirez (76), Pauline del Rosario (77) and Abby Arevalo (77) struggled in the 15-20  age bracket of the annual tournament.