Princess Superal had a shaky start but with a strong windup, the Filipino star beat Japanese Minami Hiruta by three to capture the Under-21 crown of the Faldo Series Asia.

She shot a closing 70 at Mission Hills’ Faldo course in Dongguan, China yesterday.

Superal, 18, led by one at the start of the round but lost it with two quick bogeys, on No. 2 and 3. But a three-shot swing on No. 12 got her back the lead and then fended off Hiruta’s late charge with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to clinch the victory.

“I’m happy with this victory but it was tough out there,” said Superal. “Minami just wouldn’t give up. I just kept on going and cashed in on her mishap on No. 12.”

She went 2-up after Hiruta fumbled with an opening hole bogey but dropped into a tie with those back-to-back missed-green bogeys from No. 2. The top ICTSI-The Country Club bet struck with a birdie on No. 6 to regain control but the Japanese countered with a birdie on the par-5 10th to draw level.

But Hiruta hit a wayward drive on the par-4 12th, needing to play out before reaching the green in four and two-putting for 6.

In contrast, Superal split the fairway and hit a superb 8-iron shot from 140 yards within 10 feet, which she drilled in to storm ahead by three.

Hiruta tried to press her with a birdie on No. 15th but Superal fought back with her birdie on the next before closing out with a bogey-birdie for a 37-34 card and clinching the three-stroke win.

It was Superal’s second straight victory abroad after running away with the Spring Junior crown in Los Angeles last month. She, however, fell short of her title bid in the ICTSI Ladies Tour of the Taiwan LPGA, losing by one to Korean Hwang Ye-nah last week.

Resource: http://www.mb.com.ph/superal-rules-faldo-tilt/