Princess Superal carded a one-under 71, but Miya Legaspi blew a fiery start and settled for a 72 as Team Philippines pooled a 143 and tied for 11th, eight strokes off Canada in the Espirito Santo Trophy of the World Amateur Golf Team Championships at Karui East Golf Club in Karuizawa, Japan, late Wednesday.
Superal, the reigning US Girls’ Juniors champion, missed a couple of birdie putts from six feet at the frontside of Oshitate Course and bogeyed the par-5 13th after gunning down back-to-back birdies from No. 11, finishing with a 37 and a 71.
The Filipinos hope to rebound in the second round of the 72-hole event with Superal, Legaspi and Del Rosario on Thursday.
“They could’ve shot better but missed some birdie chances from close range,” said national team and ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.
Legaspi, an Asian Youth Games gold medalist, bucked a bogey on No. 2 with four birdies in the next 10 holes but dropped three strokes in the last four, including a double-bogey on the par-5 15th.
Canada sizzled with a nine-under 135 and led reigning back-to-back champion South Korea, assembling a 137, by two.