PRINCESS Superal and amateur Regina de Guzman took different routes but produced the same two-under 70s to trail Elizabeth Szokol and three others by one at the start of the NWGA (National Women’s Golf Association) at LPGA International-Jones in Daytona Beach, Florida Monday.
Superal hit two birdies at the front then negated a bogey mishap on No. 11 with a birdie on the closing par-5 hole for a 34-36 card while De Guzman turned in a 36-34 round that included four birdies against two bogeys at the back.
The duo’s strong start put them just within striking distance of Szokol, who birdied three of the last four holes at the front to fire a 69.
She tied Prima Thammaraks, who birdied No. 12 and eagled the 18th, Ruixin Liu, who charged with three birdies in the last four holes, and Jennifer Kirby, who bucked a one-over card after six holes with back-to-back birdies from No. 7 and an eagle on the ninth, at the helm of the 54-hole tournament serving as the second-to-last tuneup for those vying in the LPGA Q-School Final Stage two weeks from now, also in Florida.
The last LPGA Q-School Final Stage will be held Nov. 20-22 at LPGA International-Hills.
Superal, backed by ICTSI, F Siblings and PB-Farms, and De Guzman placed fourth and seventh, respectively, inl last week’s Arizona Women’s Open the Filipina aces hopeful of contending for the crown this week with their impressive starts.
Other Filipinas set to fight for 20 LPGA Tour cards next year are Dottie Ardina, Cyna Rodriguez and Mia Piccio along with Fil-Am Claris Guce, a two-time winner on the Symetra Tour.