Princess Superal closed out with flubbed back-to-back birdie putts inside seven feet and missed winning the low medal honors in the LPGA and Symetra Tour Qualifying School-Stage I at Rancho Mirage, California Sunday.
The ace Filipina shotmaker was so confident of her bid coming off a long birdie putt on No. 16 but her putts fell off short on the last two holes of the tough Dinah Shore course. She settled for a 69 and joint runner-up finish in the first of three qualifiers leading to a dream LPGA Tour stint.
Superal, 19, finished tied with American Sarah Schmelzel, who carded a 71, at nine-under 279 in the 72-hole tournament topped by Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea, who pooled a 278 after a 70.
Still, it was the best-ever finish by a Filipina bet in the Q-School of the world’s premier ladies tour with The Country Club ace vowing to prepare hard and stay in shape when he resumes her campaign in Stage II set Oct. 20-23 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.
“She’ll play two LPGA events in September and then head to Florida mid-October to prepare for Stage II,” said TCC coach Bong Lopez.
“She had the line on both holes but her putts just fell short. Sayang talaga,” said Lopez, referring to Superal’s last two strokes which had she made would’ve netted her the coveted medal honors.