Superal, Ikeda join 3-way WW Invt’l lead

Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai finished strong while amateur hotshot Princess Superal hobbled home with three late bogeys as they fell into a three-way tie for the lead with Chihiro Ikeda halfway through the ICTSI Wack Wack Invitational at the West course in Mandaluyong.

Meechai, the winner at Splendido last week, closed birdie-par-birdie while Superal dropped three straight shots from the 14th to finish with level 72s and catch Ikeda at 144 after the Filipino-Japanese seeking a breakthrough pro win shot a 74.

Apple Fudolin carded a 73 and was a shot off the formidable trio with Korean amateur Koh Eu-na also shooting a 73 to be another shot back.

Superal, who already has three international amateur victories this season and a second place finish in the all-pro Ladies Open at Southlinks, would have been comfortably ahead if not for her shaky finish.

First round leader Pennapa Pulsawath, who shot a 69 on Tuesday, skied to an 84 and practically bowed out of the title race at 153. She opened up with a quadruple bogey 8 and then went bogey-bogey for a front nine 45.

“I had a solid start, but I lost my feel in putting [in the closing holes],” rued Superal, who will see action in the Queen Sirikit Cup.

Cyna Rodriguez lost further ground after a 75 and stood at 148 like Saraporn Chamchoi of Thailand (73). Musong R. Castillo