Superal, Team Philippines running second Princess

MANILA, Philippines — Superal rode on a three-birdie binge from No. 10 to fuel a fiery a six-under 66 for a share of second with world No. 4 Lydia Ko, just a shot behind two-time major winner So Yeon Ryu in individual competition while steering the Philippines to joint second in team play at the start of the Asia Pacific Cup at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday.

Failing to gain much headway with a one-birdie frontside card, Superal bucked the winds that started to pick up at the back as she birdied the first two holes on crisp iron shots then added another on the par-3 12th to find herself in the mix. She drilled in another on the 15th then struck a brilliant approach shot to within three feet on the par-5 18th.

“I played consistently, especially with my drives. I also hit solid iron shots and my putting clicked at the back as I made a couple of up-and-down saves to preserve by bogey-free card,” said Superal.

But while Superal flourished with a closing 31, Epson Tour campaigner and ICTSI teammate Pauline del Rosario wavered with three bogeys in the last nine holes, including on No. 18. She ended up with a 75 as the Philippines slipped to joint second with Japan in team competition with a three-under 141 aggregate.

Ko actually turned in a more explosive finish, holing out with a birdie-eagle feat to churn out her version of a 35-31 at the par-72 layout, whose tricky surface bedeviled the games of the rest of the 44-player cast with only nine players able to break par.

But Team Korea 2 rose to the challenge as Ryu fashioned out a bogey-free 65 (34-31) round to wrest control in individual play.