Arevalo hangs tough
Abby Arevalo drilled in an eight-foot birdie putt on the last hole to salvage a one-over-par 73 and cling to a one-stroke lead over teammate Princess Superal and Malaysian Loy Hee Hing after two rounds of the RSGC AmBank Junior Amateur Open at Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur late Wednesday.
Arevalo hit all but one green in regulation but struggled on the sleek putting surface. She bogeyed No. 5 on an errant drive and three-putted No. 9 before parring the rest until No. 18.
Counting her opening 71, Arevalo pooled 144 and barely held off Superal, who matched par for 145 heading to the final 18 holes of the division for players 18 years and younger.
“I played so well in the morning round but my putting was not as good,” said Arevalo, an ICTSI-The Country Club stalwart like Superal.
Superal, who is coming off a win in the True Visions tournament in Thailand, had two birdies and as many bogeys.
Sam Martirez matched Superal’s 72 and lay at 147 while Korean Kim Joo-yeon stood at 151 after a 75 in a tie with Malaysian Junie Khaw Wen Jun (77).
Sofia Chabon paced the 15-under class with 145 despite a 74, three strokes ahead of Indonesia’s Rivani Adelia (74). Bernice Olivarez-Ilas (74) lay five behind.
