It’s a cruise for Superal in Riviera tournament

Princess Superal watched rookie Abby Arevalo lose steam during an early rally and closed out with a 70 for a five-shot triumph in the ICTSI Riviera Invitational Challenge at the Couples course in Silang, Cavite province, on Thursday.

Superal was looking at a cruising victory after taking a five-shot lead going into the final round, but Arevalo mounted an early charge with back-to-back birdies that pulled her to within two. But the youngster’s attack fizzled out with a double bogey on No. 3, allowing the reigning Order of Merit champion to coast to the title.

Superal birdied No. 6 and matched Arevalo’s birdie on the ninth to go 6-up again at the turn and cement the title in the first of two bubble tournaments put up by International Container Terminal Services Inc. to mark pro golf’s resumption after an eight-month hiatus due to pandemic.

Superal’s seven-under aggregate was worth P72,000 as she was untouchable the moment she opened the tournament with a 67 and a six-shot lead over Arevalo.

Arevalo wound up matching Superal’s final round output for a 214 that was good for second place. Arevalo went home with P52,000 in her maiden pro stint.

Pauline del Rosario, who was dominating in her rookie season in 2017 with four victories, blew a two-under card at the front with three bogeys in the last nine holes, ending up with a 73 for third at 221. Chanelle Avaricio, the other rookie in the fold, rammed in three straight birdies from No. 3 but dropped a stroke on the par-5 11th and finished with a 70 for fourth at 222.

Tony Lascuña fired a bogey-free 69 then watched Rupert Zaragosa fumble with a last-hole bogey to force a tie even as Joenard Rates rallied late to stalk the leaders in the third round of the men’s tournament.

Lascuña sank three birdies and preserved a solid 35-34 card by rescuing a couple of pars that put the multititled Davaoeño back in the hunt for the crown.

Zaragosa threatened to pull away with birdies in the first two holes and clung onto a one-stroke lead despite slowing down with a two-birdie, two-bogey in the next 14 holes.