Superal nears Southern Ladies ‘3-peat’

Princess Superal moved on the threshold of a “three-peat” in the Southern Ladies championship crown after shooting a three-under-par 69 yesterday worth 57 points and keeping Yuka Saso at bay in the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Superal conquered the tough, tree-lined Apo Golf layout for the second consecutive day, gunning down four birdies against a lone bogey for a 36-hole total of 115 as Saso failed to make a dent on an overnight four-stroke deficit with a similar 69.

“I just hope to play as steady (today),” said Superal, who immediately went to her postround strength workout. “There is no safe lead (in golf), although being four points up is an advantage.

“You can’t be complacent (in the final round) because anything can happen in this course,” added Superal, whose second bogey in two rounds came on the par-4 16th hole after she dumped her approach in the greenside trap that ended in a buried lie.

Sofia Chabon took over third place after carding 51 points but was 11 off Saso, the Fil-Japanese who is Team The Country Club’s newest discovery.

Sam Martirez bounced back from an opening 45 with a level 54 and was just a point behind Chabon with a 99-point aggregate.

Abegail Arevalo, who opened with 51 points on Wednesday, skied to a 44 for 95 in the event that is part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Casino Filipino-Davao and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Gendel dela Cerna opened up a 10-point lead in Class A action over Irene Shinmura after shooting 49 points for a 99-point tally. Shinmura, who started the day just eight points off, fired 47 points.