Superal ends title drought with playoff win at ICTSI Caliraya

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CAVINTI, Laguna – Princess Superal rose from years of injury setbacks to reclaim her place atop Philippine women’s golf, edging Sarah Ababa in a dramatic sudden-death playoff to capture the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship crown on Thursday.

After four years of waiting, working and wondering if her game would ever return to form, the former U.S. Girls’ Junior champion finally broke through.

“It feels great. I’m so happy,” said Superal.

“This year, naramdaman ko talaga na nag-i-improve na ang laro ko. I’ve been waiting for this moment — and deep down, I knew I could win again.”

Superal entered the final round tied with Ababa and Chihiro Ikeda and played with steady precision, parring the first 13 holes before draining a birdie on No. 14 to stay close as Ababa surged with a solid 34 on the front nine.

A bogey on No. 15 briefly stalled Superal’s momentum, but she finished strong with three straight pars to sign off with a 72 for a 4-under 212 total.

At first, the score didn’t seem enough.

Ababa held a two-shot lead with two holes to play, but pressure got the better of her as she bogeyed both Nos. 17 and 18, finishing with an even-par round and forcing a playoff.

“I just tried to stay consistent and focused on my game,” said Superal.

“I knew there was still a chance if I just kept believing.”

In the playoff on the par-4 18th, both players found the fairway but came up short of the green.

Superal, 12 yards away, produced a deft chip to within four feet and calmly holed her par putt.

Ababa, from around 20 yards, failed to convert her long-range par attempt, giving Superal the championship and the PHP125,000 top purse.

It was a triumphant return for the 26-year-old, who last won at Eagle Ridge in 2021 and has battled injury and form issues ever since.

“I struggled for three years because of injury,” said Superal.

“But we just focused on getting stronger, building everything back. Then suddenly, things started to click. I could feel it — and I held on to that.”

She credited long-time coach Bong Lopez for helping her navigate the tough stretch and for guiding her technical and mental rebuild.

“I knew I could win again. I never stopped believing — but it’s still a little overwhelming how fast things turned around,” she added.

Ababa, the reigning Iloilo leg champion, looked poised for another title after a clutch birdie on No. 16, but couldn’t hold off Superal in the end.

She settled for second and took home PHP82,000.

Florence Bisera carded her third straight 71 to finish solo third at 213, just one shot out of the playoff.

Defending champion Harmie Constantino posted a 72 with three birdies against three bogeys on the back nine, ending at 214 in fourth place.

Tiffany Lee surged with a 70 to grab fifth at 215.

Ikeda struggled with a frontside 40 and finished with a 76, dropping to sixth at 216.

Mafy Singson (71), Korea’s Seo Yun Kim (73) and Martina Miñoza (74) shared seventh at 217.

But the day — and the spotlight — belonged to Superal.

Once hailed for her poise and precision, she returns not just as a comeback story, but as a renewed force on tour.

LUA EYES 3RD STRAIGHT WIN

Julia Lua returns to action as the marked player when Round 2 of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour resumes Saturday, Aug. 9, at Caliraya Springs Golf Club, carrying a wave of confidence and momentum.

The La Salle-1 standout has been the most consistent performer so far, winning the Sherwood Hills opener and clinching the Round 1 individual title with an 84 at Royal Northwoods Golf Club in Bulacan last month.

That back-to-back run has made the 19-year-old shotmaker the player to beat on the demanding Caliraya layout, where uneven lies, elevated greens and swirling winds expose any weaknesses.

Standing in her way is UP-1’s Adrienne Manhit, who narrowly trailed Lua at Royal Northwoods and is eager for redemption.

Known for her steady ball-striking and fierce competitiveness, Manhit is expected to challenge Lua down to the wire.

Other strong contenders include CSB’s Natasha Bantug, UP’s Katrisse Datoc, and Lua’s La Salle teammates Janine Yusay and Margarita Bautista.

Enderun Colleges’ Kristyanna Herrera and Mapua’s Rane Cabling round out the field of rising stars.

Each brings unique strengths — whether in length off the tee, finesse around the greens or strategic course management — setting up a tight leaderboard battle.

While Lua remains focused on the individual title, she’s also aiming to lead La Salle-1 to the team crown after falling short to Ateneo-I in Round 1.

UP-1, which placed third, is also seeking to climb the standings.

The three-to-play, two-to-count format adds pressure on the entire lineup, especially the third scorer, and often determines team success.

The four-round Tour, co-developed by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation, aims to develop young talent, boost school pride and pave the way for players eyeing pro careers.

It is open to school teams and individual entries across the country, fostering broad competition and growth.

Also competing at Caliraya are CSB’s Angeline Hernandez; La Salle’s Stacey Chan, Jilliana Ordoña, Michelle Cuenca, Leanne Dy, Maddie Valderrama and Nicole Tan; and UP’s Alyanna Yatco — all looking to make their mark.

Round 3 takes place Aug. 11 at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga, alongside the men’s competition.

The men’s final round is set for Aug. 17 at Beverly Hills Golf Club, also in Pampanga, while the ladies return for their final round on Aug. 24 at Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.

The season-ending three-day finals will be held Sept. 23–25 at the demanding Splendido Taal Golf Club.