Keeping self-belief and working hard to get back to a place she once was at, Princess Superal quenched a four-year thirst for a win on Thursday after beating Sarah Ababa in the first hole of sudden death for the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship crown.

“I struggled for three years because of injury,” the 26-year-old Superal, whose last title came at Eagle Ridge in 2021, said. “[I] just focused on getting stronger, building everything back—things started to click. I could feel it.

“I could feel my game coming back—and I held on to that.”

Superal and Ababa finished 54-hole regulation by closing out with level 72s for 212, before the former toast of local golf and ex-US Girls’ Junior winner saved par after missing the green on their second trip to the 18th to win.

“I’m so happy,” Superal, a Bong Lopez ward at Southwoods, said. “I feel that this year, my game has started to pick up again. “I’ve been waiting for this moment–and deep down, I knew I could win again.”

The loss, however, was particularly painful for Ababa, the affable Davao native who threw away a two-shot lead entering the final two holes after signing for bogeys.

“I never stopped believing, though [today] was still a little overwhelming,” Superal added.

Meanwhile, Keanu Jahns gunned down an eagle that went with six birdies in assembling a 65 to grab a one-shot lead over the seasoned Angelo Que heading into the final round of the 72-hole, P2.5-million men’s championship.

Jahns made the turn at 31 and dropped a shot on the 13th to take a 202 aggregate into the final round, where he will try to fend off the in-form Que, who submitted a 67 to be a shot back and five other players who are just five strokes off the pace.

Fidel Concepcion also fired a 67 to be at 204, with Aidric Chan also shooting a 67 to be at 206, like the United States’ Collin Wheeler (65) and Rupert Zaragoza, who returned a 69.