Superal spearheads local challenge

BATTLE-TOUGHENED amateur ace Princess Superal carries the fight for the local challenge when the P500,000 Eagle Ridge Championship of the ICTSI Ladies Tour tees off today in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

With the country’s top pros campaigning abroad, the multititled Superal is listed as one of the favorites in the 54-hole event and become the second straight amateur to win a leg in the fledging tour after Bernice Ilas triumphed in the Beverly Place Challenge in Pampanga two weeks ago.

Pauline del Rosario, a teammate of Superal in The Country Club squad under coach Bong Lopez is also in the fold and is also given a solid chance.

A handful of seasoned Thais, led by former Philippine resident Amolkan Phalajivin, will be seeing action.

Phalajivin owns a leg victory on tour and is familiar with the Aoki layout of the Eagle Ridge complex.

Cyna Rodriguez, Dottie Ardina and Mia Piccio are out of the country and Ilas and Sam Martirez got the chance to show up the pros in Pampanga by finishing 1-2, with Chihiro Ikeda finishing third, six shots behind Ilas.

Ilas will not be around this week, but Ikeda will as she tries to atone for that loss and finally break through as a professional.