Superal, Del Rosario barge into 4-ball semis

MANILA, Philippines – Top seed Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario pulled off two victories in varying fashions, including a thrilling, bounce-back 1-up triumph over Madelein Herr and Brynn Walker of Pennsylvania to crash into the semifinal round of the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship Match Play at the Streamsong Blue at Streamsong Resort in Florida Tuesday.

The Country Club bets blew a 2-up lead after 10 holes then fought back from one-hole down after 15 by birdying two of the last three holes to stay in the hunt for the crown in the second staging of one of the 13 national championships conducted by the US Golf Association.

Del Rosario, 17, birdied the par-3 16th as the Filipinas, who held a 2-up lead through 10 holes but lost three holes in a five-hole stretch from No. 11 to trail for the first time in three matches, forced an all square match in their quarterfinal duel.

Then after both teams parred the 17th, the 19-year-old Superal did what she does best, knocking down a superb iron shot to within nine feet on the 18th then dropping in the putt for the coveted berth in the Final Four.

“I just told myself to make that putt,” said Superal, the former US Girls’ Junior champion.

Del Rosario, an incoming freshman at University of Kansas, helped anchor the crucial win by birdying No. 16, the most difficult hole of the championship with a 3.6 stroke average.

“I also birdied No. 16 yesterday, so it’s been pretty good to me throughout the week,” said Del Rosario, also the reigning Thailand Ladies Amateur Open champion.

In the round of 16 match earlier in the day, Superal and Del Rosario dominated Hana Ku and Jordan Lippetz, going 2-up after 11 holes and taking No. 15 before settling for a 2&1 victory with a routine par on the 17th after their rivals birdied No. 16.