Superal bucks ‘8,’ pulls away by 7

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal overcame a horrendous “8” on the par-3 No. 13 with three birdies in the last five holes as she salvaged a 72 and padded her lead to seven in the second round of the SICC Singapore Junior Invitational at the Sime Course late Wednesday.

Superal, who took control by six early with an opening 68, negated a missed-green bogey on No. 2 with birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 12 but reeled back with a quintuple bogey on the tough 13th hole.

“I think it was short of calling it an ‘illegal’ hole as it was placed on a slope,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez. “But Cess showed her class and poise and struck back with birdies in the closing holes.”

The reigning US Girls Juniors champion actually had a birdie chance above the hole but putted way past the cup and outside the green. She pitched to within three feet, but putted again to outside the green twice over and holed out with an 8 from two feet.

Three other players scored seven on that treacherous hole.

But Superal rebounded with birdies on Nos. 15, 17 and 18 to save an even par card for a 140 aggregate, counting her solid 68 in the first round of the centerpiece 16-18 event.

Singapore’s Sarah Tan failed to cash in on Superal’s miscue and settled for a 73, dropping one shot farther back at 147 while another local bet Wong Yen Ting turned in a second straight 77 for a 154.

Yuka Saso, meanwhile, matched Superal’s 72 for a 146 and a three-stroke lead over erstwhile leader Omkanok Soisuwan of Thailand, who sputtered with a 76 for a 149. Inez Wanamarta of Indonesia limped with a 77 for a 152.

Abby Arevalo and Sofica Chabon remained too far behind with a 154 and 156 after a 78 and 77, respectively.