PH finishes 10th in World C’ships

PRINCESS Superal rallied with a two-under 70 as the Philippines finished 10th in the Espirito Santo Trophy of the World Amateur Golf Team Championships ruled by Australia in come-from-behind fashion at Karui East Golf Club in Karuizawa, Japan late Saturday.

Superal bucked a one-over card at the front with three birdies in the last nine holes, including back-to-back from No. 15 at the tougher Iriyama course, as the top ICTSI-backed bet slowed down a bit after scoring a 68 in the third round.

Miya Legaspi, impressive with a 67 Friday, bogeyed No. 17 and settled for another 72 as Team PH closed out with 142 for a 72-hole aggregate of 563 for 10th in the 50-team field.

Pauline del Rosario, who led the Team PH’s charge in the second round with a 71, birdied the opening hole but fumbled with four bogeys the rest of the way.  She failed to count anew with a second straight 75.

Superal, reigning US Girls Juniors champion, also wound up with a seven-under 281 and ended up tied for 17th in individual competition with Legaspi finishing joint 22nd at 283.

The country’s best finish so far was joint eighth in Argentina in 2010.  Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda and Mia Piccio bannered that squad.

Australia, with Minjee Lee and Su Oh firing 65 and 66, respectively at Iriyama, finished with 13-under for a 547 and edged three-day leader Canada (140-549) for the crown, their first since topping the 2002 edition in Malaysia.