Princess Superal. Photo from INQUIRER Golf
HONG KONG—Filipino standout Princess Superal capped a closing six-under-par 66 with successive birdies Friday to win the Hong Kong Amateur Ladies Open by four shots over local hope Mimi Ho at Hong Kong Golf Club’s Fanling course.
Superal’s best round in the 54-hole world ranking event gave her a 205 total and fended off two of Hong Kong’s finest players, including Ho who closed with a 67 for 209, and the Filipino’s overnight co-leader Tiffany Chan who managed a 72 for solo third at 211.
Chan, No. 15 in the world amateur rankings, took the lead right on the first hole with a birdie but faded out of contention as she bogeyed No. 3 and walked off with a four-putt triple bogey on No. 4.
“It was tough,” said Superal, lead player of the solid ICTSI team from Manila, who has won her fifth straight international tournament. “I just hung in there and made some clutch putts.”
Superal birdied three of the last four holes in the front nine to seize a two-shot lead and moved four up on Chan on the 15th with her fourth birdie.
Michelle Cheung fired a 67 to tie fellow Hong Kong shotmaker Isabelle Leung, who carded a 73, at 214.
Reigning Thailand Amateur champion Pauline del Rosario closed with a 72 for sixth at 218 with Sam Martirez, the other TCC player in the event, settling for joint 11th at 229 after a 75.
“She’s in control of her game and has been working hard on her putting to reach her current form,” said The Country Club coach Bong Lopez of Superal.