Superal, his swing slightly hampered by a dislocated hip, turned in the lowest round of the tournament at the Cottownwood Golf Club in El Cajon — one of the seven courses used for the event — in a spectacular effort that saw him gun down an eagle and eight birdies in a span of 12 holes.
He finished the day leading Nond Ounmuang of Thailand by two strokes and will get all the needed support the next two days from Anton Arboleda, a Fil-Am based in Los Angeles, who shot a 69 to be in third spot and Marcel Puyat (71).
Miggy Yee (boys 7-8) and Abby Arevalo (girls 6 under) were both in second place in their respective divisions, Wolen’s younger sister Princess was tied for third in girls 7-8, Dottie Ardina shared fourth spot in girls 11-12 and Bino dela Paz was in sixth spot in boys 9-10 at Lawrence Welk, promising another fight to the finish for the RP campaigners just like the last two years.
"This is a good way to start, let’s just pray the kids will get the breaks in the last two rounds," said delegation head Raoul Lachica, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.
Another impressive showing for the day came from Yee’s elder brother Mico who broke into the Top 10 of the centerpiece boys 15-17 years. He shot a 73 to be just three back of the leading Timothy Madigan of New Mexico in a tie for ninth spot.