Superal misses cut, settles for Step Up Tour

HYOGO – Princess Superal floundered in chilly conditions and failed to make the grade in the Final Stage of the LPGA of Japan Tour Qualifier, ending up joint 51st with a 74 at the close of the tournament topped by Erina Hara at the Tokyu Grand Oak Golf Club here.

But by hurdling the first three stages of the grueling four-part elims, the 22-year-old Superal is guaranteed of a stint in the Step Up Tour, the farm league of the LPGA of Japan Tour which offers more than 20 tournaments starting in March 2019.

“Though I was disappointed for not being able to make it to the main tour, I’m okay since I’ve already earned a full status for the Step Up Tour, assuring me of 21 tournaments next year,” said the ICTSI-backed Superal, who moved into contention with a two-under 70 in the second round but struggled in cold conditions in the last two days with temperature drastically dropping to 5 degrees in windy morning Friday.

“It was so cold and I couldn’t hit my shots right,” said Superal, who bogeyed the opening hole and dropped two more shots on Nos. 5 and 8. She birdied the ninth then holed in a six-footer for another birdie on the 12th to negate her fourth bogey on No. 11 but missed a couple of birdie chances the rest of the way to finish with a 38-36.

“After four days, I knew that I can do it but my game didn’t click the way I wanted,” rued Superal, who totaled 290, missing the top 20 plus ties cut by five shots with 12 players finishing tied at 13th at 285.

“But I’m looking forward to competing in the Step Up Tour,” she added.

But first things first and the newly crowned Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion wants to focus on her campaign in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic starting Tuesday where she will slug it out with the cream of the country’s pro crop and a slew of Thai aces.

“Her game just didn’t fall into fall into place in the last two rounds. She was very much at it after 36 holes but groped for form in the last two days,” said coach Bong Lopez. “But she can try again next year without having to go through the first two stages. And if she makes good in the Step Up, she can go straight to the final stage.”

Superal tied for 14th in the four-district first stage, placed 11th in the second elims, and tied for 15th in the penultimate stage.

Hara shot a 70 and gained the top honors at 279, two strokes ahead of Saki Asai, who also closed out with a 70 for a 281, the same output put in by Yoko Maeda and Aoi Ohnishi, who carded 72 and 73, respectively.