Superal tops California junior golf

MANILA, Philippines—Princess Superal marked her first overseas campaign with a victory, ruling the Spring Junior golf tournament by three on a closing three-under 69 at the Menifee Lakes Country Club’s Lakes course in Menifee City, California, Sunday.

Superal, 18, opened with back-to-back birdies and went on to gun down three more to negate her bogeys on Nos. 5 and 16 en route to a 139 total, including an opening 70, in the 36-hole tournament.

ICTSI teammate Pauline del Rosario actually matched Superal’s hot start at the adjacent Palms layout, hitting an eagle on No. 5 while ramming five birdies. But she also stumbled with five bogeys and ended up with a 70, completing a 1-2 finish by the Filipinos at 142.

California’s Kaili Vongsaga, just three strokes behind Superal at the start of the round, limped home with a 76 and finished third at 149. California’s Seika Matsushita and Josei Lionetti wound up with 75-152 and 75-153, respectively.

It was a big bounce-back win for Superal, the reigning US Girls’ Junior champion who settled for sixth place in last month’s Philippine Ladies Open at Wack Wack. It also augured well for the team’s campaign overseas in the coming months.