Despite putting woes, Pinay in share of lead.
TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite – Princess Superal failed to check her putting woes at the back and turned in a second straight 70, settling for a share of the lead with Thai Chatprapa Siriprakob after two rounds of the ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Classic at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club here yesterday.
Superal bounced back from a bogey finish in the first round with two birdies at the front but muffed at least three chances inside five feet coming home and missed building a cushion heading to the final round of her maiden pro event.
Instead, she will have to grind it out with Siriprakob, who carded a 71, in what promises to be a final round shootout for the top P150,000 purse after the duo pooled four-under 140s.
“I missed a lot of chances at the back. I just couldn’t the get the right speed,” rued Superal, who flubbed putts inside five feet on Nos. 10, 13 and 16 but rolled in a bending 10 footer to save par on No. 15.
Ajira Nualraksa, also from Thailand, bounced back from an opening 73 with a day’s best 69 to join Jayvie Agojo, who fired a 70, at 142, two shots off the joint leaders, while amateur Pauline del Rosario blew an impressive 34 start with a closing 38 marred by a double-bogey on No. 12 to drop to joint fifth at 143 with LPGA veteran Cyna Rodriguez, who also rebounded with a 70.
Nualraksa, however, gets the slot in the championship flight, providing added pressure on the local ace, who is hoping to mark her pro debut with a big victory in the P750,000 event sponsored by ICTSI.
The former US Girls’ Junior champion has actually racked up three wins on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. as an amateur and hopes are high for the reigning Philippine Ladies Open and Hong Ladies Amateur Open champion to nail a fourth one.