Super hot Superal erects 8-shot edge in Jakarta

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal put in motion her drive for a fourth straight crown, shooting a one-under 71 to open a whopping eight-stroke lead over local bet Putri Amani at the start of the 2015 Pondok Indah International Junior golf tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia late Tuesday.

Superal, coming off a come-from-behind victory in Singapore last week, proved steadier than the rest of the field in taming the tough Pondok Indah Golf Club, gunning down five birdies against four bogeys to seize control in the 54-hole tournament serving as Team The Country Club’s final event for the season.

Amani failed to flash her familiarity with the rolling layout and limped with a 79 while Singapore’s Rachel Lim turned in an 82 for third in the premier 18-21 age bracket.

Superal’s 71 also anchored TCC’s solid start with Bernice Olivarez-Ilas carding a 74 to pace Class B (13-14) and Mika Fortuna matching the former US Girls’ Junior champion’s output to show the way in Class A (15-17).

“The girls are looking good despite tough condition and could be on their way for a rare sweep of the three titles,” said TCC coach Bong Lopez. “But anything can still happen in the next two rounds and I told them to stay focused and not to force things out since they are in the lead.”

Ilas hit two early birdies but stumbled with four bogeys to wrest a four-stroke lead over Indonesian Meva Schmidt and Winnie Yo Xuan of Malaysia, who both had 78s, while Fortuna spiked her 71 with an eagle 2 on the par-No. 2 and a birdie on No. 2 against two late bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 for a two-shot lead over Rivani Sihitong, also of the host country, and teammate Abby Arevalo, who both carded 73s.