Del Rosario dominates Women’s Transnational

Pauline del Rosario finally took her turn to lead Team ICTSI-The Country Club’s winning run in the US, racking up three victories while eyeing one more in the 85th Women’s Transnational Championship at the Yakima Golf Club in Yakima, Washington Thursday.

Relegated to the background as teammates Mikhaela Fortuna, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, Sofia Chabon and Princess Superal notched victories one after the other in Temecula, West Lake, and San Francisco the last three weeks, Del Rosario grabbed the spotlight this time with a solid stint that netted her three titles while priming up for a fourth in the main event of the Women’s Transnational.

The De La Salle-Zobel student strung up a pair of four-under 68s to sweep the low medal honors with a 136 after the two-day qualifying, edging Honolulu’s Kacie Komoto by one, who shot a second round 67 for a 137.

Del Rosario, 16, also emerged as the Junior medalist and powered ICTSI-TCC, in partnership with Fortuna, who had a 146 from two 73s, to the Team Howell Championship.

After back-to-back 68s, Del Rosario slowed down with a one-over 73 in the third round but still kept a three-shot lead over a charging Caroline Inglis heading to the final round of the 72-hole championship.

The Queen Sirikit Cup veteran pooled a 54-hole total of 209, holding Inglis at bay despite the latter’s solid five-under 67 for a 212. Cathleen Santos, also from the US, limped with a 75 after two 70s and slid to third at 215.

Fortuna also struggled with a 74 for a 220 while Superal, honing up for next week’s US Women’s Amateur, continued to flounder with 73, 74 and 75 for a 222.

But Del Rosario took care of business, rattling off five birdies in the last seven holes at the back, including four straight from No. 12, to anchor her opening 68 Tuesday. She opened with a 33 in the second round then hit two more birdies against a bogey at the back to turn in another four-under card and claim the low and junior medal honors.

Del Rosario, however, failed to sustain a birdie opening in the third round, fumbling with two bogeys and a double-bogey on No. 7, and needing to birdie the next two to save a 37. She mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys at the back for that 73.