Dorothy survives rookie test

CEBU CITY — Oh what one victory makes.

Around this time last year, Dorothy Delasin was a struggling first-timer in the cutthroat competition that was the LPGA tour, missing the cut in three of her first six starts and worried sick about her chances of retaining her pro card.

But after one victory at the Giant Eagle tournament in Ohio and a rookie-of-the-year honors at the end of the season, the 21-year-old Fil-Am is safely into the roster of LPGA regulars for the next three years. Her victory over Pat Hurst in the Giant Eagle has guaranteed a three-year exemption in the tour.

"At least I will have a job for the next three years," said Delasin who is here as guest of the organizers in the 54th PAL Interclub and as part of her homecoming trip to establish a foundation for the poor sector of the golfing community. She was also here late last year and was honored as the PSA Athlete of the Year.

She came in from Hawaai where she finished tied for 13th in Kona and will be leaving for Arizona Monday for another leg of the tour. She plans to compete in 30 tournaments this year and hopefully improve on her standings and earnings. She had won some $339,000 but 40 percent of it went to withholding federal taxes.

Looking back, she said there was too much pressure as she entered the tour together with Filipino teammate Jennifer Rosales not only to make a living but to prove herself that she belonged in that elite cast of female pro golfers.

"Finance-wise we just didn’t have enough and there’s that constant pressure to be in the top 90 to be able to keep your card. I had a slow start but in the middle of the season, with the win in Giant Eagle, I just felt comfortable. Then I got tired," she said.

Delasin felt she is in better form competitively this time of the year compared to her condition in 2000. She has improved in her game although she admitted she needed to work some more on her putting.

She and her father Sonny will establish the Dorothy Delasin Foundation which will help the less privileged people in the sport like the caddies, the umbrella girls and tee boys who have the potential in the game.

The foundation will provide the beneficiaries the tools of the trade together with professional training and the chance to play in big tournaments. "For those who want to have a different vocation, we can also help them by starting them out in new careers like computer training and other skills," she said.

Giving support to the Delasins are US-based golfing enthusiasts and the ABS, a leading producer of food supplements. But Dorothy said the foundation would need assistance from the government to be able to pursue its objectives.

Delasin played with Atty. Domeng Duerme, PAL tournament chairman, Atty. Bobby Lim of PAL legal section and Brian Cockrell, president of Pathfinders Holdings, operator of Cebu Plaza, Alegre Beach Resort and Park Place.