Superal grabs 1-shot lead

Amateur hotshot Princess Superal holed a 10-footer for birdie on the 18th hole yesterday to cap a four-under-par 68 that lifted her on top by one stroke over Cyna Rodriguez heading into the final round of the ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

The 16-year-old Superal needed just 23 putts to complete a 33-35 card for a 138 aggregate that kept her on course to winning the circuit’s final event of the season for the second straight year.

Rodriguez, the winner of four titles this year, had just two birdies against a bogey for a 71 in another trying day at the well-manicured layout, but her 139 was seven shots clear of the next pro, Chihiro Ikeda.

The top prize in the P750,000 event is P150,000 and Ikeda, who fired a similar 71, would need a truly low round today in order to give Rodriguez a fight for the title and the cash prize the amateurs aren’t eligible to win.

Korean expat Jeong Seung-eun returned a 69 and stood third at 141, two shots clear of another amateur, Pauline Del Rosario, who matched par.

Yuka Saso, a Filipino-Japanese teammate of Superal and Del Rosario in the ICTSI squad, also had a 72 and was tied with Ikeda at 146, with Harmie Constantino and Abby Arevalo shooting 75s for 149 and 151, respectively.

Thai Amolkan Phalajivin and Lovelyn Guioguio were the pros closest to Ikeda at 152. They were tied with amateurs Sofia Chabon and Samantha Martirez, who carded a 75 and 77, respectively.