Pinays cap off Santi Cup romp

PRINCESS Superal and Miya Legaspi closed out with two-under-par 69s on Thursday as the Philippines coasted to a 13-shot victory and dethroned Thailand in the Santi Cup championship at Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei.

The duo drained several long putts in the back nine to stave off the five-time champion Thais and power the Filipinos to their first title in Southeast Asia’s official team golf championship for women.

The Philippines, which tallied 138 in the final round for 544, threw away the 72 of Pauline Del Rosario in the three-to-play, two-to-count event.

“I guess those long putts rattled the Thais,” said Superal, the reigning United States Junior Girls champion who drained birdie putts from 35 and 25 feet, respectively, on Nos. 13 and 16. “Finally, we got the big one over the Thais.”

The Filipinos started the day with a 15-shot cushion and all but clinched the title after the second day of the 54-hole tournament when Superal and Del Rosario returned matching 67s.

But Thailand gamely fought on in the front nine, cutting the deficit to seven at one point before Superal and Legaspi restored order for the Filipinos.

Legaspi completed a sweep for Team Philippines by winning the individual crown with a 272 tally, five clear of Thailand’s Parinda Phokan. Del Rosario was third, another stroke adrift.

Thailand, though, won the Putra Cup for men by 23 shots over Singapore with an 821 total. Malaysia was third at 857 with the defending champion Philippines fourth at 857. Musong R. Castillo