Del Rosario finishes strong, claims FCG Junior crown

MANILA, Philippines - Pauline del Rosario checked an early skid with a blazing finish, securing a three-stroke victory over Thailand’s Benyapa Niphatsophon and Sana Tufail of Abu Dhabi despite a closing one-over 73 in the FCG International Junior Golf tournament at the Sycuan Oak Glen Course in San Diego, California Wednesday.

Six shots ahead of the field after two rounds of play, Del Rosario bogeyed the first five holes, enabling Taiwanese Minjou Chen to tie the top ICTSI-backed bet with an eagle on the par-5 No. 7. But the Filipina ace recovered in time, birdying Nos. 8 and 10 to regain control then bucked a missed-green bogey on No. 16 with birdies in the last two holes for that 73.

“Pau played almost perfect golf at the back, hitting all the fairways and greens and reaching the two par-5s (Nos. 10 and 18) in two for birdies,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez. “She simply saved her best for last.”

Del Rosario, who opened with a 71 and surged ahead with a four-under 68 Tuesday, thus wound up with a 212, beating Niphatsophon and Tufail, also birdied the 18th to finish with identical 70s and 215s, by three in the premier 15-18 division.

Chen failed to sustain her fightback as she fumbled with bogeys on Nos. 9 and 13 and settled for a 72 and solo fourth at 217.

Princess Superal, the spearhead of Team ICTSI, birdied No. 2 but missed a couple more from close range and finished with a 73 for a share of seventh with teammate Abby Arevalo, who matched par 72, at 219.

The victory augured well for Del Rosario’s campaign in next week’s Junior World where she won the 13-14 crown last year. But for a while, she appeared headed for a big collapse when she struggled in the early going and bogeyed the first five holes.

She was still two-up heading to No. 7 but Chen hit an eagle and tied for the lead. They remained tied with birdies on the next but the Taiwanese hit an errant drive on the ninth for bogey, enabling Del Rosario to move up by one again at the turn.