Princess queen in LPGT return, posts 5-shot win

MANILA, Philippines — Princess Superal had built too huge a lead and got loads of experience to be unnerved one bit by a rookie but talented rival.

So when Abby Arevalo birdied the first two holes and pulled within three, Superal just took the threat in stride and stayed focused on the task at hand – emerge on top in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s return in new normal.

The victory came in handy as Arevalo’s early charge got stymied by the latter’s own undoing, enabling the smooth-swinging Superal to essay a runaway five-shot triumph on a closing 70 in the ICTSI Riviera Invitational Challenge at the Couples course in Silang, Cavite Thursday.

She did expect a trouble-free final round after staying on top by five through 36 holes Wednesday although Arevalo made it a little bit exciting by holing out back-to-back birdies from No. 1, a charge she herself squandered with a double-bogey mishap on No. 3.

That all but settled the outcome of the 54- hole championship, the first of two bubble tournaments put up by ICTSI to mark pro golf’s resumption after an eight-month hiatus due to pandemic, as Superal birdied No. 6 and matched Arevalo’s birdie on the ninth to go 6-up again at the turn.

Meanwhile, Tony Lascuña came away with a solid three-under 69 to catch Rupert Zaragosa at the helm even as Joenard Rates wheeled back into contention with a late rally after three rounds of men’s play.

Needing to rebound from a par-game (72) in the second round, Lascuña birdied the opening hole then broke a run of pars with back-to-back feats from No. 10.