Superal lags behind by 3 after a 71

Princess Superal recovered from a shaky frontside stint with three birdies in the first five holes at the back but stumbled with a last-hole bogey to settle for a one-under 71 and lay three shots off Pattaraporn Mounchoo at the start of the fifth Singha-Sat Thai LPGA Championship in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, late Wednesday.

Superal, one of the crack amateurs invited to play in one of Thailand’s premier pro tournaments, notched two bogeys against a birdie at the front side but birdied Nos. 10, 11 and 14 to get into the mix. But after three straight pars, the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet missed the 18th green and failed to return a seven-foot putt for par.

With a 37-34 card, the reigning US Girls Juniors champion shared fourth place with four others, three strokes off fellow amateur Mounchoo, who made three birdies at the back to fire a 68.

Mounchoo, who also birdied Nos. 6 and 7 to negate a missed-green bogey on the ninth, took a two-shot lead over another amateur Parinda Phokan and pro Pavarisa Yoktuan, who both carded 70s at the Royal Hills Golf Course.

Abby Arevalo, who humbled Superal to win the RSGC AmBank crown in Malaysia last month, groped for form and hobbled with a 79 marred by seven bogeys and a double bogey against two birdies.

Superal, who had posted four victories early in the season, including the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Wack Wack Invitational last month, is priming up for next week’s Queen Sirikit Cup where she hopes to steer the country to its first ever title in the event.