Putting woes stymie Princess Superal bid

HYOGO – Princess Superal flubbed a couple of birdie chances on both nines and ended up with a one-over 73 to trail flightmate Mizuka Suzuki by seven at the start of the Final Stage of the LPGA of Japan Tour Qualifier at the Tokyu Grand Oak Golf Club here yesterday.

Superal came through with superb iron shots but struggled with her putting touch on the sleek, undulating surface, ending up birdie-less in near-ideal conditions in a fumbling start that stymied her bid in the last part of the grueling four-stage elims leading to a dream card in the region’s most lucrative circuit.

“Just couldn’t hit it right on target and the greens are fast and tough to read,” rued Superal, who failed to cash in on the four par-5s that saw her muff putts inside eight feet.

She three-putted the par-3 17th from 25 feet for the lone black mark in her 36-37 card.

At joint 53rd with 16 others, the reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner will have a lot of catching up to do in the next three rounds of the event which stakes full cards for next year’s circuit to the top 20 plus ties.

“She hit good drives and iron shot but played defensively on the greens and just couldn’t make the putts,” said coach Bong Lopez. “But she’ll settle down.”

Superal actually kept Suzuki within sight after nine holes but the latter pressed her bid at the back and rattled off five birdies, including the two par 5s to fire a 66 and wrest a one-stroke lead over Um Na Young, who shot a 67, while four players carded 68s.