Superal falters as Philippines settles for runner-up finish in Queen Sirikit Cup

HONG KONG – Princess Superal and Yuka Saso wavered at the finish and carded identical 73s but the Philippines still took runner-up honors in the Queen Sirikit Cup topped by powerhouse South Korea in runaway fashion at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s New Course here Friday.

Superal, who rebounded from an opening 73 in rain-suspended first round with a 69 Thursday, lost her momentum after a birdie-birdie binge from No. 11 as she missed the greens on Nos. 15 and 18 for bogeys and flubbed a five-foot birdie putt on the 16th for a 36-37 card.

After a 79 and 77 in the first two rounds, Saso went two-under after 16 holes but three-putted the par-3 17th and made a double-bogey on the 18th after a poor bunker shot that dropped her ball back to the trap.

Still, those 73s and a 146 proved enough for Team Phl to snatch second at 436 as the Pinay golfers edged erstwhile joint second running Japan and host Hong Kong, which floundered with 148 and 151, respectively.

Pauline del Rosario, who backed Superal’s 73 and 69 with two 74s in the first two days, skied to a 78 and didn’t count.

Korea, which beat China by six in Malaysia last year and dominated the premier Asia-Pacific ladies team event from 2007-2012, posted a more impressive record this year, assembling a 54-total of 422 after a 141, 14 shots ahead of the Philippines, whose campaign was sanctioned by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) and sponsored by ICTSI.

Superal, tied for second in individual play and just two strokes behind Park Hyun Kyung after two rounds, moved to within one off the Korean ace after birdying Nos. 11 and 12.

But the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet’s late bogeys doomed her chances to clinch solo second as she dropped to third with a 215.

Park also ran away with the individual crown with a 69 and a 209 while teammate Jang Eun Soo pounced on Superal’s foldup and completed a 1-2 finish by the Koreans with a 213 after a 72.

Source: Spin.ph

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Princess Superal tows Philippines from sixth to joint second in Hong Kong

PRINCESS Superal shot a three-under 69 as Team Philippines rose from joint sixth to a share of second behind Korea on Thursday in the second round of the Queen Sirikit Cup at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s New Course in Fanling in Hong Kong.

Pauline del Rosario fired a 74 as the Philippines came up with a 143 for a two-day total of 290, matching Japan and Hong Kong.

South Korea is firmly on top at 281 after a second-round 141, with Park Hyun Kyung firing a 70. Jang Eun Soo and Lee Joung Eun scored identical one-under 71s.

The weather improved from the rain suspended first round but the compact field had to gut it out at completion of play early morning and in the second round as the wind blew from all over and players struggled with club selection.

Only six from the 39 players broke par, with Superal turning in the second-best round.

Yuka Saso shot a 77 in the three-to-play, two-to-count format event also known as the Asia-Pacific Ladies Team Golf Championship.

Superal, who shot a first-round 73, also moved to within two shots of Park at 142 in the race for the individual championship although Jang and Lee are in joint second at 141.

“I could’ve shot lower but missed two birdie putts from close range,” said Superal. “But it’s a good score given the wind condition. I’ll just try to play better tomorrow and hope for the best.”

Minami Hiruta shot the day’s best 67 as Japan came up with a 142.

Hong Kong, which had a 139 in the opening round, struggled to a 151.

Australia had a 144 for a 291, while Thailand hobbled with a 150 for a 294 followed by Indonesia (149-295), New Zealand (151-296), Chinese-Taipei (146-298), China (150-298), India (151-298), Malaysia (154-302) and Singapore (147-303).

Source: Spin.ph

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