Superal downs 2 US bets, gains last 8

PRINCESS Superal put on a pair of blazing windups to defeat Palo Alto’s Anna Zhou, 3 and 2, in the Last 32 phase and Kristen Gillman of Texas, 3 and 1, in the Round of 16 to barge into the quarterfinals of the US Girls’ Junior Championships Match Play at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, Thursday.

Superal hit three birdies in a five-hole stretch from No. 12 to bundle out Zhou in morning play, then repeated her birdie binge from Nos. 13 to 17 to boot out Gillman in the afternoon match as the top ICTSI-backed player sealed a quarterfinal showdown with American Bethany Wu.

“She’s hitting the ball pretty solid and playing with a lot of confidence, especially in the closing holes,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.

Wu, a semifinalist here last year, routed Samantha Wagner, 6 and 4, then trounced Rose Huang, 4 and 2,

Superal, who launched her bid in the knockout stage with an imposing 8-and-7 romp over Maria Davis, went 2-up early against Zhou but made a bogey on No. 7 and yielded No. 11 on a Zhou birdie, squaring the match.

The reigning Southeast Games champion and winner of a string of junior international titles then birdied Nos. 12 and 13 to go 2-up before rolling in an eight-footer for birdie on No. 16 to clinch the match.

Against Gillman, however, Superal went 2 holes down in the early going but birdied Nos. 7 and 10 to square the match. She then birdied Nos. 13, 15 and 17 to whisk off the Texan.

ICTSI teammate Sofia Chabon fought back from a hole down to beat Gabrielle Baker, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32 but bowed to Binny Lee, also of Texas, 2-up, in the next round.

Miya Legaspi also dominated Janet Mao, 6 and 4, but lost to Australian Shelly Shin, 6 and 5, in the Round of 16, while Yuka Saso bowed to Andrea Lee, 6 and 5, in the second round.