Del Rosario, Superal rekindle final flight wars for Caliraya title

Pauline del Rosario has great repeat chance. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rookie Aidric Chan signed for a second straight two-under-par 70 to claim a piece of the 36-hole lead in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship even as Pauline del Rosario and Princess Superal—rivals on the course since their junior days—set up a compelling finale for the ladies diadem after contrasting final hole fortunes on Wednesday.

A bogey on the par-5 16th was all that prevented Chan from taking the solo lead for the first time in his young pro career, as it dropped him level with South Korean teen Tae Soo-kim, who returned a 74, at 140 heading into the final two rounds over the well-manicured layout in Cavinti, Laguna.

Back in the bag

After a 40th place finish at Apo in his maiden event that was followed up with an eighth place tie the next week at Rancho Palos Verdes, Chan is treading the right path to fulfill his potential early. And he could do it this week using an old putter he put back in the bag after the Davao events.

“It helped in the first two weeks, but unfortunately, I wasn’t stroking it well at all in the next two weeks,” Chan answered when asked why he reverted to his old putter.

Keabu Jahns and Clyde Mondilla fired 71s and another Korean in Min Hyeok-Yu assembled a 68 to catch Dino Villanueva at 141, with the seasoned Angelo Que shooting a 73 to be another shot back.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Del Rosario converted a birdie putt from 14 feet to sign for a 69 and tie Superal for the ladies lead at 142 after Superal closed out with a bogey.

Prides of the national team in their age-group days and now campaigning in different tours abroad, Del Rosario and Superal will be in a blockbuster final flight for the first time in years as they dispute the top prize—and bragging rights—in the 54-hole, P1-million tournament.

“We will just both be excited to be paired again (in the final round),” Del Rosario, who is on a break from her Epson Tour campaign in the United States, said. “It’s not new to us, we have played together a lot in the final group growing up.”Harmie Constantino fired a 73 to be at 145, with Chanelle Avaricio another shot behind like Mikha Fortuna after rounds of 73 and 71, in that order.