AsPac queen Superal resumes drive for Thai breakthrough

MANILA, Philippines – With her long game and iron play virtually in place, Princess Superal is putting premium on her putting as she steps up her drive for a first championship in Thailand in the seventh Bt2.5 million SAT-TWT Open Road to World Ranking beginning Wednesday at the Kabin Buri Golf Club in Prachin Buri.

Notwithstanding her mediocre joint 21st overall finish in last week’s Thailand Mixed, Superal is all poised to recalling the form that led to a smashing victory in the inaugural Asia Pacific Cup in Jakarta two weeks ago as she faces the local tour’s best, led by two-time champion Patchara Kongkraphan, in the 54-hole championship.

“I feel confident, everything is okay except perhaps last week when I struggled with my putting,” said Superal, referring to her stint in the Thailand Mixed where she came into the event with so much hopes following a three-shot victory in the AsPac meet that saw her best two of the world’s top 10 players and three major champions.

After nailing her first overseas crown, Superal had aimed at a strong finish in Thai Mixed after an explosive 10-point burst on five birdies in the second round that put her at joint ninth in the event held under the Stableford scoring format. But the ICTSI-backed ace played tight in the last round partly caused by what her team disclosed as the effects of her period.

But she expects no other distraction this week as she seeks to finally hit paydirt in Thailand after posting a slew of top 10 finishes on the Thai WPGA Tour and Thai LPGA Tour with two runner-up efforts, including a playoff setback to Aunchisa Utama in the fourth Thai LPGA Championship in Nakhon Nayok last May.

“I’ve been trying to work on it (putting),” she added. “It’s a continuing process since we play on different surfaces each tournament week so I need to really adjust quick on the speed and aim in order to compensate for the slopes (of the green).”

She has sampled the par-72, 6,428-yard Kabin Buri Sport Club twice and liked what she saw although the multi-titled Ladies Philippine Golf Tour campaigner remains wary of the opposition and the tricky course which puts emphasis on accuracy.

“This will be my first time to play (Kabin Buri), but every week, my goal is to win although there’s a lot of strong (Thai) players. So I have to do my best (to win),” said Supera, 25l.

She will wrap up her Thailand tour campaign in the Bt4 million BGC Thailand Masters 2022 at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Prachuap Khiri Khan from September 7-9.

To stave off the burnout factor, Superal said she makes it a point to get at least a day’s rest.

“Before AsPac, I rested for two weeks since I really plan to play four straight events abroad. But I have to rest every after each tournament, I need at least a day off to keep me a bit fresh," she said.

“But I like to challenge myself against the Thais. The competition really challenges me and it helps improve my game,” said Superal.

But the Filipina ace is in for a stiff challenge with 30-year-old Kongkraphan eager to add this week’s title to her previous wins in the fourth and fifth circuits of the SAT-TWT Open at Royal Hua Hin and Lake View Resort clubs.

Others tipped to contend are Arpichaya Yubol, a former LPGT winner, and former LPGA campaigners Budsbakorn Sukapan and Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, the top finisher in the distaff side in the Thailand Mixed.